FPL 224:JDN Report:Oct2023
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WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Document no: FPL 224/JDN Report/Oct2023 Original:
English
Title: Report of the Junior Doctors Network
Destination: Finance and Planning Committee
224th
Council Session
WMA General Assembly, Kigali, 2023
Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre
Kigali, Rwanda
4-7 October 2023
Action(s)
required:
To be
received
Introduction
In October 2022, a new JDN management team took office for the 2022/2023 term. The team
developed a joint management team strategy with overarching goals that include improving and
creating meaningful engagement of members, improving the sustainability of the JDN, and
increasing the visibility of the JDN in the WMA and influence in the global space.
This report will serve as the end of term report.
1. Membership
The JDN is broadening its international presence by extending a warm welcome to new members
from diverse regions around the globe. JDN members had a year-over-year growth of 48.13% in
2023 compared to 2022, with a total of 763 members from more than 100 countries from all the
regions. To ensure their smooth integration and provide a space for forging connections, the JDN
continues to conduct its regular newcomer sessions. In addition, the organization convenes monthly
meetings strategically timed to accommodate members across different time zones, further
enhancing its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
2. Participation in WMA external and Internal activities
The JDN attended the UNFCCC COP 27 in Egypt, where they formed part of the WMA delegation.
The JDN has been active in providing comments on policies such as the SMAC and MEC policies,
as well as UHC 2030’s Draft Action Agenda in preparation for the UN High-Level Meeting.
The JDN attended the 152nd World Health Organisation Executive Board Meeting and represented
the WMA, drafting and delivering all the interventions.
Preceding the World Health Assembly (WHA), the JDN held a successful two-day event in Ferney
Voltaire, serving as a prelude to the WHA. Notably, this year’s gathering had a JDN alumni event in
commemoration of a decade of JDN’s engagement in the World Health Assembly.
The JDN also took part in the 76th World Health Assembly, representing the WMA and taking
charge of writing and delivering interventions on behalf of the WMA. During the World Health
Assembly, a productive bilateral meeting was held with the Taiwan Ministry of Health.
The Chairperson of the JDN remains active on the World Federation for Medical Education
(WFME) executive council, and in the associate Members steering committee.
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The JDN has continued to assist in some follow-ups at WHO meetings related to negotiations on
the pandemic treaty namely the meetings of the INB and the IHR.
The JDN Membership director was named as a member of the WHO Quadripartite Working Group
on Youth Engagement for Antimicrobial Resistance in July 2023.
The JDN also actively contributes to the internal work of the WMA. The JDN Education director is
the WMA rapporteur and chair of the WMA Working group that revised the WMA Statement on
Medical Workforce. Additionally, JDN co-chairs the WMA working group on pandemics and
epidemics. The JDN is well represented in other WMA working groups which includes but not
limited to environmental and workgroup on human sexuality.
3. Internal organization of the management team
The JDN management team adopted a joint management team strategy and shared it with the
general membership. In addition, the JDN has drafted email and communication ground rules to
ensure effective and efficient communication among members. The JDN held a successful hybrid
bi-annual meeting in Nairobi, a day immediately prior to the start of the WMA council session.
Furthermore, the JDN is organised a two-day hybrid bi-annual meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. These
initiatives reflect the JDN’s commitment to promoting collaboration and communication among
members and advancing global health through advocacy and knowledge-sharing.
4. Working groups
The JDN has eight active working groups (WG):
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Comprehensive Primary Health Care
• COVID/Pandemic Preparedness
• LGBTQIA+
• Medical Ethics
• Medical Exchange, Education and International Mobility
• Planetary Health
• Global Surgery Working Group
5. Publications
The JDN publications team has successfully published the 26th issue of the JDN Newsletter. In
addition, the JDN is working on producing a joint special edition on medical education and ethics
which is undergoing editorial process and is scheduled to be published in September 2023.
The publications team has initiated the process of collecting articles for the 27th issue of the JDN
newsletter, scheduled for publication in October 2023.
These initiatives demonstrate the organization’s commitment to providing valuable resources and
information to its members and promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among young
doctors around the world. Previous editions of the JDN Newsletter can be found here:
https://www.wma.net/junior-doctors/news/.
6. Communications
The JDN has been active in regularly posting on social media platforms. The organization has used
its social media handles for advocacy purposes. The organization has used its social media handles
for advocacy purposes, such as promoting the Astana Declaration, the World Antimicrobial Week
and Universal health coverage.
These efforts demonstrate the network’s commitment to using various channels to communicate
with its members and promote its advocacy efforts. By leveraging social media, the JDN can reach
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a wider audience and raise awareness about important issues and initiatives relevant to young
medical professionals around the world.
7. Collaboration with other health professionals’ groups
The JDN places great importance on establishing and maintaining strong relationships with other
health professionals’ associations. These associations include the International Federation of
Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), the Student Network of the International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), the young World Federation of Public Health
Associations (WFPHA), the European Junior Doctors Association (EJD), and the WHO Global
Health Workforce Network (GHWN) Youth hub, the WHO Youth Council.
The JDN organizes webinar series on social determinants of health with the young World
Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).
The JDN was represented at the European Junior Doctor’s Meeting in Norway in November 2022,
and similarly took part in Latvia in May 2023. Furthermore, the JDN had a presence at the
International Junior Doctors Meeting in Malaysia and Commonwealth Medical Association
Meeting in November 2022.
The JDN has collaborated with other youth organizations and the World Health Organization
(WHO) to establish a WHO Youth Council, which provides advice to the Director General. The
JDN has been actively represented in the WHO Youth Council meeting in January 2023 and the
work of the WHO Youth Council.
8. Supporting Existing and New National Junior doctor organizations
The JDN has been engaging in meetings with the JDN of various countries, to provide support and
assistance in establishing a formal national JDN in those countries.
As part of this effort, the JDN will be creating a toolkit to aid countries without a formal JDN
structure in initiating one. This demonstrates the organization’s dedication to expanding its reach
and promoting the interests of junior doctors in different parts of the world.
The JDN Chairperson also gave a keynote speech during the first National Meeting of JDN
Indonesia
Dr. Uchechukwu Arum, Chairperson of the Junior Doctors Network (Nigeria/UK)
And the other JDN Management Team:
• Deputy chairperson: Lwando Maki (South Africa)
• Secretary: Marie-Claire Wangari (Kenya)
• Socio medical affairs director: Lekha Rathod (India/The Netherlands)
• Medical ethics director: Jihoo Lee (Korea/US)
• Medical education director: Balkiss Abdelmoula (Tunisia/Germany)
• Membership director: Pablo Estrella (Ecuador/Spain)
• Communication director: Sazi Nzama (South Africa)
• Publications director: Jeazul Ponce (Mexico/Spain)
• Immediate past chairperson: Yassen Tcholakov (Canada)
01.09.2023