Emergency and Trauma Care

THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC
ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
Centre International de Bureaux FEIN : 13-2566243
Immeuble A “Keynes” Website : www.wma.net Postal Address :
13, chemin du Levant Telephone : (33) 4 50 40 75 75 Boîte Postale 63
01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Fax : (33) 4 50 40 59 37 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex
France E-mail address : wma@wma.net France
72nd
World Health Assembly
Item 12.9 Emergency and trauma care
Honorable Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the World Medical Association, which
represents 9 million physicians around the world.
As physicians we recognize the importance of a systematic approach to emergency care as
described in WHO Framework on Emergency Care systems. Emergency care has to be centered on
acuity-based triage, early recognition, resuscitation, and simple initial management and referral. To
reach this, a strengthened health sector leadership and a well-trained workforce are crucial. The
World Medical Association urges WHO and member states to develop further on ways to equip and
educate the health workforce to address patients’ needs. We recommend that emergency care
training be included in the curricula of all future doctors, and that education in this field be
conducted under the supervision of skilled physicians.
Furthermore, the World Medical Association welcomes the recommendation to conduct assessment
of emergency care systems and identify priorities for context-relevant action. Coordination of pre-
hospital and facility-based care is essential, and emergency care physicians should maintain a
leading role.
Finally, the WMA supports WHO recommendation to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and
healthcare facilities. The WMA urges member states to establish clear protocols and to take action
to protect the personal safety of physicians, other responders, and patients. We wish to highlight
that while the global community must work to address incidents of violence perpetrated by military
and terrorist groups, we must also work to addressing everyday violence which unfortunately often
goes unreported.
We look forward to collaborating with WHO on these issues. We aim at providing timely care for
all the acutely ill and injured.
Thank you,