WMA Annual Report 2017

ANNUAL REPORT
2017
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The WMA at 70
Paris 1947 Chicago 2017
MESSAGE FROM THE
WMA PRESIDENT 
D R Y O S H I T A K E Y O K O K U R A
WMA President
For the first time the World Medical Association
presents an annual report which is not only
aimed at the membership, but at the public at
large. The WMA Executive Council found that it
was time to respond to increasing demands of
people and media to learn about what WMA is
and does.
We thought giving a review was one, but not the
only way to do this. 

2017 has again been a year
with remarkable activities of the Association:
From two successful statutory meetings in
Zambia at Victoria Falls and in the United States
of America in Chicago to a series of discussions
on end-of-life issues we staged in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, Tokyo, Japan and at the Vatican we
explored and experienced discussion with
scientists, partners, patient representatives and
our members.
In Chicago, we have not only revised the
Declaration of Geneva, the successor to the
Hippocratic Oath, we have demonstrated the
will and determination to stay with a common
deontology for all physicians around the world. 
There is one core of medical ethics to which
we all subscribe and the support among
medical associations to have this realized is
overwhelming. 
The WMA has recommitted itself to major
public health efforts, together with
international partners like the UN
Organizations or private groups from
professional organizations to patient groups
and industry. We act with an awareness for
the Social Determinants of Health as
fundamental challenges to our societies, but
also to our profession. We specifically work to
strengthen the use of immunizations, fight
tobacco and aim to reduce the abuse of
alcohol and drugs. Together with the World
Health Organization we strive for the
introduction and fostering of Universal Health
Care for all people and we will continue this
work in the years to come.
To us it comprises a core part of the work for
the Sustainable Development Goals of the
global community.

 This report will not replace
the formal semestrial reports (Secretary
General and Council Report) to the Council
and the General Assembly, but rather gives a
glimpse insight of some activities we had over
the last year.
This report is not to be thought to be
exhaustive or even complete, but should
rather be seen as a collection of snapshots
telling the story of the past year. 

I hope you
will enjoy it.
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WMA President Dr Yokokura addressing the UHC
Forum, December 2017, Tokyo, Japan
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A B O U T W M A                                 W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
The World Medical Association was founded
September 1947 in Paris after a two-year
period of preparation by a number of
national Medical Association and the firm
decision not to continue a previously existing
International Medical Association. In the
aftermath of WWII and what then came to
light about the abuse of medicine and
research, especially in Nazi-Germany – a new
start was deemed necessary. Since then and
until today the focus of the World Medical
Association lies on building an international,
global consensus on the rules of the
profession, the medical ethics or the
deontology of medicine as it is called in some
countries.
Since 1947 the WMA has published a number
of key policies, which have shaped medical
ethics, like the Declaration of Geneva – the
successor of the Hippocratic Oath (1947) a
first international professional code (1949) the
Declaration of Helsinki on research involving
human beings (1964), the Declaration of
Tokyo commanding physicians not to
participate in torture or degrading treatment
(1975) or the Declaration of Malta on Hunger
Strikers (1991). 
But from the very beginning the WMA was
also interested in the social environment of
health and health care and medical
education. While the work on our social
environment is still a second core issue of the
association and most prominently
demonstrated in our work on the Social
Determinants of Health (Declaration of Oslo,
2015).
The engagement for medical education was
fused with the medical faculties, the
International Federation of Medical Students
Association and WHO by founding the World
Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
with which we are still in close co-
operations.
In its early years the WMA resided in New
York, close to the United Nations. In 1974 the
Secretariat moved to Ferney-Voltaire, France
in close proximity to the Geneva UN
Campus, in order to be close to the WHO.
WMA entertains formal relationships to
many of the UN Agencies, like WHO, IMO,
ILO, IMO, UNESCO, UNICEF as well as the UN
Human Rights Council and the Social and
Economic Committee of the UN. We
represent our members to international
private and public institutions and
cooperation closely with the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
Delegates a the First General Assembly 1947
International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies  (IFRC).
The WMA is networking with many other
(professional) associations in the field of
health care, human rights, social policy and
the environment. Since 1999 we have a close
cooperation with the International Council of
Nurses (ICN), the World Dental Federation
(FDI), the international Pharmaceutical
Federation (FIP) and the World
Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) in
the World Health Professions Alliance
(WHPA).
E V E N T S                                       W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
One of the first policies of the then new
World Medical Association was the
Declaration of Geneva in 1948. A
declaration or pledge that was intended
to replace the outdated Hippocratic
Oath.
Over the thousands of years not only
medicine had changed. We don’t believe
anymore in Greek gods and swearing to
them – and that is in the beginning of the
Hippocratic Oath – was not seen as
appropriate anymore. And while ancient
Greek physicians where prohibited to do
surgery – modern medicine would not go
without it. Yet basic ethical principles
that have been attributed to the
Hippocratic Oath like confidentiality and
non-maleficence are still values we
honour. And those cornerstones of
medical ethics can be seen as the true
legacy of the Hippocratic oath, which
now are reflected in the Declaration of
Geneva.
The Declaration has become the core
document of the WMA policy apparatus.
However, over the years the Declaration
itself got more and more forgotten. In a
survey with the WMA members the
workgroup found a disappointing low use
of the Declaration and a tendency for
regional adaptations or versions. But in a
time of globalization and exchange
shouldn’t our ethical rules be the same all
over?
With that in mind, the workgroup
analysed the short fallings and strengths
of the Declaration and finally proposed a
revised version to WMA Council and the
General Assembly meeting in Chicago
October 2017. Clearly the new like the old
document does not attempt to be trendy
or fashionable, the revised version
retained form and values of the old
version and with that most of the text.
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The Declaration of Geneva is a true successor the Hippocratic Oath
But it rearranged the text in a more logical
order and added some new items to them.
And although some may argue those new
items have been implicit before, but it was
felt that they had to be mentioned
explicitly now.
There are four main additions to the
Declaration of Geneva in the 2017 version
· The respect for patient autonomy
· The obligation to share medical
knowledge
· The promise to give due respect to
teachers, colleagues and students
· The attention to one’s own health and
well-being
The added subtitle “The Physician’s Pledge”
underlines the difference from an oath.
And finally: The document is no longer
targeting only beginners, but also can and
should be used by experienced physicians
renewing their commitment to medical
ethics.
The new text reads:
The Physician’s Pledge
AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:
I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first
consideration;
I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;
I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;
I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed,
ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual
orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my
duty and my patient;
I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient
has died;
I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity and in
accordance with good medical practice;
I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;
I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and
gratitude that is their due;
I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and
the advancement of healthcare;
I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to
provide care of the highest standard;
I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil
liberties, even under threat;
I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely, and upon my honour.
For a second time the WMA held its
leadership course under the Caring
Physicians of World Initiative at the Mayo
Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. 29
participants from 20 countries (Brazil,
Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Kenya, Latvia,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria,
Romania, Singapore, Senegal, South Africa,
Sweden, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago,
Uruguay, and Zambia) participated at this
year’s course. Originally the course was
provided by the international business
school INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France
and later at their Campus in Singapore. For
two years now the course is being held at
the Mayo Clinic, which kindly allows the
WMA to hold the course at their campus
and delivers the content on social media
communication in health.
The purpose of the course is to support the
physician leaders of tomorrow to be more
effective in their roles within their National
Medical Association. More specifically, the
program aimed to enhance competency
development in core domains:
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Second CPW Leadership Course hosted at the Mayo Clinic
•Leadership, strategic decision-making
and negotiation
•Health communication and policy
•Social media and traditional media
Among the participants were 28
physicians ranging from experienced
leaders to junior doctors plus one
member of the WMA secretariat. The
physicians attending represented
several practice disciplines from family
practice to psychiatry, from public
health to surgery and academia.
In difference to earlier course, the
lectures and exercises at Mayo deal
more with communication methods
and strategies. Faculty from Brandeis
University, The Institute for Healthcare
Excellence, Mayo and Health Care
Strategy delivered the content in
session over five days. Nearly every
participant found the course providing
new skills for them and being relevant
to their work as medical leaders.
E V E N T S                                       W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
In May 2017, in parallel to the World Health
Assembly, the WMA together with the ICRC,
the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and
Canada, the World Health Organization
(WHO), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
organised a prominent joint side-event in the
Geneva Palais. The event on 22nd May
entitled: “Attacks on healthcare: Where do we
stand one year after the adoption of the UNSC
Resolution 2286?” aimed to look at concrete
measures to address increasing attacks on
healthcare, including with the support of the
Resolution.
The side-event – co-chaired by Alain Berset,
Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Council,
and the Honourable Jane Philpott, Canadian
Minister of Health – provided an excellent
opportunity for the broad health community
gathered in Geneva for the World Health
Assembly to listen to the perspectives of key
actors in this area, including Dr Peter
Salama, Executive Director of WHO Health
Emergencies Programme, Yves Daccord,
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Keeping on our engagement to stop violence against health care
The United Security Council Resolution 2286
The Security Council, composed of 15
members, has primary responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and
security. All Member States are obligated to
comply with its decisions. In May 2016, the
Security Council adopted the resolution 2286
condemning attacks against medical facilities
and personnel in conflict situations. Its
endorsement followed the Spanish initiative
bringing to the attention of the diplomats the
“Ethical Principles of Health Care in Times of
Armed Conflict and Other Emergencies“,
adopted by the Civilian and military health-
care organizations, including the WMA, in June
2015. The resolution demands an end to
impunity for those responsible and respect for
international law on the part of all parties to
armed conflict and urges States and all parties
to armed conflict to develop effective
measures to prevent and address acts of
violence against the delivery of medical care in
armed conflict.
Director-General of the ICRC, Dr Joanne Liu,
President of MSF as well as Dr Ardis Hoven,
Chair of the WMA’s Council. Dr Hoven
recalled that attacks on health care
constitutes a matter of primary concern for
the WMA and expressed her grave concerns
regarding the decreasing threshold for
using violence in civil and emergency
contexts. Noting the consequent erosion of
medical neutrality, she strongly denounced
that health care personnel and facilities are
becoming targets of war. In conclusion, the
Chair of WMA’s Council called for society
leaders – not only in conflict zones – to
urgently engage to ensure that health care
can be provided safely under the best
conditions. The full implementation of the
2286 Resolution by Member States would
be a good start. Violence has a serious and
detrimental effect on the provision of health
care in regions where the need is the
greatest.
E V E N T S                                       W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
In June 2017, Dr Dainius Purras , the Special
Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard
of physical and mental health presented his
report to the United Nations Human Rights
Council (Report A/HRC/35/21). Being the
international reference body for defining
medical ethics values, the WMA considered
that its contribution to the discussion on
mental health and human rights was
essential. With the core contribution of Dr
Miguel Jorge (Brazilian Medical Association),
psychiatrist and Chair of the WMA Socio-
Medical Affairs Committee, and based on its
Statement on Ethical Issues Concerning
Patients with Mental Illness, the WMA
produced written comments on the report. In
its comments, the WMA welcomes the
Special Rapporteur Report denouncing the
widespread and continuous violations of the
fundamental rights of persons with mental
health conditions and recalls physicians’
responsibilities to support the well-being and
rights of all patients. 
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       Making physicians’ voice heard in the international debate on the promotion
of mental health as a global priority and a fundamental human right
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       Fostering health in the core global climate change discussions – a healthy
global society requires a healthy planet
IThe WMA supports a holistic approach
placing all mental health stakeholders
together for a balanced bio-psychosocial
model of care allowing to take into
considerations the various needs of the
patients.
Noting also that low quality care and abuses
in psychiatric institutions are mostly related to
poor resources, underdevelopment, ignorance
and stigmatization of persons with mental
health conditions, the WMA denounces the
often very precarious working conditions of
health professionals. The written comments
conclude by recommending the inclusion of
psychiatrists and other health professionals in
the discussion on human rights in mental
health and in advocating for an inclusive, bio-
psychosocial approach.
The Special Rapporteur, Dr Puras, welcomed
WMA comments positively, valuing its
legitimate contribution to the debate. A
regular dialogue has since then been in place
on this issue and other health related human
rights issues.
During the year 2017, the WMA maintained its
active engagement tohighlight the
importance ofhealth in the global discussions
on climate change, in particular inwith
respect tothe implementation of
coreelements of the Paris agreement. The
WMA was present at both the COP23
conference as well as the meetings of the
subsidiaries bodies of the UNFCCC in April
and November 2017in Bonn, Germany.  
Based on WMA policy line, and in
collaboration with other key partners and
WHO, the delegation advocated for the
urgent implementation ofthe actions needed
to meet the commitments of theParis
Agreement,, enouncing the consequences of 
climate change on healththroughsocial and
environmental determinants of healthand
the very short timeline to act in order to
protect human wellbeing.  
The line of action in Bonn was articulated on
the requisite for a transdisciplinary and
inclusive approach that considers broad
imperatives, such as the Sustainable
Development Goals, and to seize the
opportunities of many cost-effective public
health interventions, such as cleaner air,
healthier diets, more physically active
lifestyles, to mitigate and adapt to climate
change. 
E V E N T S                                       W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
WHO developed the Global Action Plan on
Antimicrobial Resistance, which articulated
five main objectives with the healthcare
workforce being a key player in their
attainment. Most notably,
Objective 1 strives to “improve awareness and
understanding of antimicrobial resistance
through effective communication, education
and training.’’ The WHO established an AMR
secretariat whose purpose is to link the
various stakeholders, get them involved and
coordinate the activities of the Action Plan.
One emphasis will be on the education of
medical students and physicians. WMA
participated in a WHO expert consultation
meeting on health workforce education and
AMR. The outcome of this meeting was the
development of the first draft of the global
interprofessional AMR competency
framework for health workers education.  This
tool will assist health policy planners and
decision makers in countries to work towards
achieving the first objective of the WHO
Global Action plan on AMR which aims to
improve awareness and understanding of
AMR through effective communication,
education and training.  
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    Antimicrobial Resistance
It is also intended to serve as the basis for the
development of a global prototype AMR
curriculum for health workers education and
training scheduled.
WMA commented the first draft version
together with the World Federation of
Medical Associations. in order to be able to
reduce the burden of AMR that it is of utmost
importance to have a deep knowledge of
diagnosis before prescribing an antibiotic.
A study from India reports on the overuse and
inappropriate choice of antibiotics for acute,
uncomplicated infections of the respiratory
tract (3) and shows how critical the deep
knowledge and training in diagnosis is for the
prescribing health professional. Therefore, our
comments included the knowledge and
training aspects to do a proper diagnosis and
to differentiate between different origins and
severity of infections. 
30
worldwide
events
In 2017, the leaders of WMA have
represented the organization in
over 30 events across the globe,
defending the core values of
physicians. 
More than
E V E N T S                                       W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
During the Fourth Global Forum on Human
Resources for Health in November 2017 in
Dublin, Ireland WMA organized together with
the International federation of Pharmacists
FIP the side session on: How can regulation
ensure quality health care, professional
autonomy and protect the public’s interest?
Commercialised health care models may
affect professional autonomy and the
delivered quality of care. 
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      How can regulation ensure quality health care, professional autonomy and
protect the public’s interest? 
To address the global problems of unsafe
medication practices, the WHO has launched
a Global Patient Safety Challenge on
Medication Safety with the overall goal to
“reduce the avoidable harm due to unsafe
medication practices by 50% worldwide by
2020”. In order to develop this initiative, the
WHO invited the WMA and other relevant
stakeholders to several consultations this year.
Under this overarching topic WMA was invited
by the WHO to participate in a Global
Consultation for Setting Priorities for Global
Patient Safety in collaboration with the Centre
for Clinical Risk Management and Patient
Safety, Department of Health. 
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      Patient Safety 
The purpose of health care regulation is to
protect the public’s interest and ensure
patient-centred quality care based on ethical
principles, as opposed to the profit-oriented
models of care. Professional autonomy
through self-regulation defines standards and
ensures quality for health care models.
Therefore, regulation has an important role in
the implementation of strategies such as the
WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources
for Health to accelerate UHC and ensure a
sustainable health workforce.  
This high-level global event brought together
key international experts and senior policy
makers from ministries of health from both
developed and developing countries.
The objective of this consultation was to
identify main challenges and barriers to
improving patient safety for patients, health-
care providers and the environment of care
and define priorities for future action by the
WHO and countries.
WMA wrote together with WHO and the other
health professions the‘Patient Safety
Curriculum Guide- Multi Professional
Edition’and we participated in the update a
few years later.
Now WHO would like to do a second revision
of this curriculum guide but do this in several
steps. As the first step the chapter‘Improving
Medication Saftey’should be updated with
the possibility to have it as a single document
as well. In a first meeting in December 2017
we discussed the topics, order and priorities
of the chapter improving medication safety.
Based on this discussion WHO will develop a
first revised version to be commented by
WMA and other health professionals. 
E V E N T S                                       W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
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Constituent Membership
This category of members is typically
represented by National and Territorial
Medical Associations of Physicians from
different countries in the world. Such
associations are broadly representative of the
physicians of their country by virtue of their
membership, with their voting membership
being limited to physicians and medical
students. They are not subject to, or controlled
by, any office or agency of government.
Advantages
1. Recognition and acceptance as a member
of an international organization such as the
WMA lends tremendous credibility to a
National Medical Association (NMA). This is
particularly true when there is more than one
professional association representing
physicians in a country.
2. The WMA is in official relations with United
Nations agencies such as the World Health
Organization, which gives NMAs and Associate
Members access to these world bodies.
3. By participating in the debate with
colleagues from all over the world, NMAs and
Associate Members have the opportunity to
provide the world with valuable ethical
guidance and leadership in health care.
4. Information and knowledge can be sourced
from the WMA, which can contribute to the
optimal efficacy of NMAs and individual
physicians.
5. NMAs and Associate Members can make
use of the WMA’s products and services.
WMA currently has a total of  114 members since October 2017. Detailed list available here.
M E M B E R S H I P                               W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Associate Membership Advantages
Associate members is limited to physicians, as
that term is defined in the WMA Bylaws and
medical students who are properly enrolled in
a medical school which the Council
determines is a recognized medical school in
the country in which it is located, who have
applied for such membership and who have
paid the amount of dues prescribed for such
members. Associate membership is available
to such individual physicians and medical
students whether or not their National Medical
Association is a Constituent Member of the
World Medical Association.
1. Introductions to professional leaders in your
field and appointments to visit medical and
health institutions abroad.
2. Information on medical meetings abroad. 
3. The privilege of attending and participating
in WMA annual assemblies.
4. A service department which will assist you
in meeting your colleagues both at home or
abroad. 
5. An internationally recognized membership
card, automobile decals and certificate for
display. 
6. WMA secretariat consultation, service and
small meeting center. 
7. Possible participation in foreign and
exchange programs. 
8. Publications of the World Medical
Association. 
WMA currently has more that 1000 active
Associate Members since October 2017.
The registration page is available here.
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BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEARS
AT 31 DECEMBER 2016 AND 2015
F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T                   W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
 INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE
YEARS 2016 AND 2015 
WMA SECRETARIAT
13, ch. du Levant, CIB – Bâtiment A, 01210,
Ferney-Voltaire, France
Phone: +33 4 50 40 75 75 
Fax: +33 4 50 40 59 37
wma@wma.net
facebook.com/WorldMedicalAssociation/
twitter.com/medwma
Dr. Yoshitake YOKOKURA
President
Japan
Dr. Leonid EIDELMAN
President-Elect
Israel
Dr. Ketan DESAI
Immediate Past President
India
Dr. Ardis D. HOVEN
Chairperson of Council
United States
Dr. René HÉMAN
Chairperson of the Finance
and Planning Committee
Netherlands
Dr. Miguel Roberto JORGE
Chairperson of the Socio-
Medical Affairs Committee
Brazil
Dr. Joseph HEYMAN
Chairperson of the Associate
Members
United States
W M A L E A D E R S                             W M A 2 0 1 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T
Dr. Otmar KLOIBER
Secretary-General
Germany
Dr. Frank Ulrich
MONTGOMERY
Vice-Chairperson of Council
Germany
Dr. Andrew DEARDEN
Treasurer
United Kingdom
Dr. Heidi STENSMYREN
Chairperson of the Medical
Ethics Committee
Sweden
Dr. Ketan DESAI, President of WMA  (2016-2017)
with the WMA Staff
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