Council229-ActivityReport-April2025

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WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Activity Report to the
229th WMA Council Session
(October 2024 – April 2025)
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ACTIVITY REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I ETHICS, ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATION …………………………………………………………………………… 4
1. ETHICS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
1.1 Revision of the Declaration of Helsinki …………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
1.2 Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration ……………………………………………………………………………………..4
2. HUMAN RIGHTS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
2.1 Right to health ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
2.2 Protecting patients and physicians…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
2.3 Violence against healthcare in areas of armed conflict and other situations of violence………………………..7
2.4 Prevention of torture and ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
2.5 Mental health and human rights ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
2.6 Health through peace ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
2.7 Sexual orientation and gender identity ……………………………………………………………………………………………………9
3. PUBLIC HEALTH ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
3.1 Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
3.2 Communicable diseases …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
3.3 Health and populations exposed to discrimination………………………………………………………………………………..11
3.4 Social determinants of health (SDH) and universal health coverage (UHC) ……………………………………………12
3.5 Health and the environment ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
3.6 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Medical Technologies ……………………………………………………………………………..14
4. HEALTH SYSTEMS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
4.1 World Patient Safety Day ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14
4.2 Antimicrobial resistance & One Health…………………………………………………………………………………………………..15
4.3 Health emergencies………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..16
4.4 Health workforce ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16
5. HEALTH POLICY & EDUCATION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17
5.1 Medical and health policy development and education ………………………………………………………………………..17
5.2 Support for national constituent members ……………………………………………………………………………………………17
CHAPTER II PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION ……………………………………………………………………………….. 17
1. Regional Medical Associations and Standing Conferences ………………………………………………………………………………18
2. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………18
3. OTHER UN AGENCIES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19
4. WORLD HEALTH PROFESSIONS ALLIANCE (WHPA)…………………………………………………………………………………………..19
5. MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19
6. WMA COOPERATING CENTRES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..20
7. WORLD FEDERATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION…………………………………………………………………………………………….21
8. VIENNA CONGRESS 27 JANUARY 2025 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21
9. WORLD CONTINUING EDUCATION ALLIANCE (WCEA)……………………………………………………………………………………..22
10. OTHER PARTNERSHIPS OR COLLABORATIONS WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS …………..22
CHAPTER III COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH ………………………………………………………………………………… 24
1. Press releases …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24
2. WMA NEWSLETTER ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….25
3. WMA SOCIAL MEDIA (TWITTER, LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE and BLUESKY) …………………………………………..25
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4. WORLD MEDICAL JOURNAL……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..26
5. WMA ANNUAL REPORT ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ROLE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….26
7. SECONDMENTS/INTERNSHIPS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….26
8. JDN Newsletter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26
9. WMA GLOSSARY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26
CHAPTER IV OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
1. STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2030…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….26
CHAPTER V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 27
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CHAPTER I ETHICS, ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATION
1. ETHICS
1.1 Revision of the Declaration of Helsinki
The 2024 revision of the Declaration of Helsinki (DOH) has been widely promoted since it
was adopted at the 77th WMA General Assembly in Helsinki in October 2024. The chair of
the DoH revision workgroup Dr Jack Resneck Jr. of the American Medical Association,
the WMA ethics advisors Prof. Urban Wiesing and Prof. Dominique Sprumont, as well as
the Secretary General, have given numerous seminars and webinars to explain the changes
in the new version. The audience has reached from international associations of ethics
committees to national ethics committees, the Pontifical Academy for Life, to
pharmaceutical and medtech manufacturers and their associations.
1.2 Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration
In 2014, the WMA in partnership with the International Alliance of Patients Organizations
(IAPO), International Council of Nurses, International Pharmaceutical Federation
(pharmacists) and International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and
Associations (IFPMA), drafted a consensus-based framework agreement to publicly align
on shared ethical values. The Consensus Framework was established for ethical
collaboration between patients’ organisations, healthcare professionals and the
pharmaceutical industry, in support of high-quality patient care. This Consensus
Framework and the accompanying resources are intended to serve as a toolkit for those
associations, groups and alliances who wish to develop their own policies or national
frameworks.
In line with the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the Framework in October 2024 the
International Consensus Framework signatory partners decided to revise the framework
and add a new principle on Data and AI Ethics. The revised version is up for decision at
the WMA Council meeting in Montevideo.
Moreover, WMA joins efforts to strengthen Africa’s health ecosystem and try to help solve
the region’s health challenges; WMA and IFPMA agree to foster awareness, and to
develop and implement a consensus framework in the African region. In addition to this,
WMA and IFPMA have intensified high level discussions on ethics and compliance
between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Secretary General was invited to present about the Consensus Framework at SMI
Business Ethics Session at the 2024 APEC session in Lima, Peru. Especially, but not
exclusively among APEC, several countries have used the Framework to develop their
own consensus frameworks.
2. HUMAN RIGHTS
2.1 Right to health
The WMA Secretariat follows the activities of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,
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Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (South Africa) and keeps WMA members regularly informed via the
WMA Newsletter.
2.2 Protecting patients and physicians
Actions of support
Country/ topic Case
AZERBAIJAN
March 2025
Source: Armenian
Med. Ass. /
Amnesty
international
The secretariat received a request from the Armenian medical association to act in
support of Mr Ruben Vardanyan, who has been detained in Azerbaijan since
September 2023.According to various sources,his conditions of detention are highly
questionable with practices contrary to human rights standards and amounting to
torture. The health of Mr Vardanyan is deteriorating rapidly.
An open letter wassent to the Azerbaijani authorities asking them to ensure that Mr
Vardanyan receives the necessary medical care without delay, in accordance with the
principles of medical ethics, and to respect their international obligations, in
particular the right to health,the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of torture and
other ill-treatment. The open letter was promoted on social media.
GHANA
March 2025
Source: media
In response to the anti-LGBTQ bill that has be re-introduced in the parliament of
Ghana early March, several messages were posted on social media recalling
the WMA Resolution on Anti-LGBTQLegislation, adopted last October in Helsinki,
and calling on Ghanaian authorities to immediately veto or rescind the Human Sexual
Rights and Family Values bill. The messages also referred to the WMA statements
on Natural Variations of Human Sexuality and on Transgender People, which
condemn all forms of stigmatisation, criminalization of and discrimination against
people based on their sexual orientation.
▪ X: https://x.com/medwma/status/1897293648464843122
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:73030568283707
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▪ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldMedicalAssociation/videos/111725
0150082897
▪ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/medwma.bsky.social/post/3ljn76mxjrk2r
ISRAEL
Oct. 2024 – now
Source:
Israeli Medical
Ass. / Media
The Council resolution on the protection of healthcare in Israel and Gaza
(April 2024, Seoul) was adopted by the WMA General Assembly last October in
Helsinki.
The secretariat shared with the Israeli Medical Association the mails from members
during the reporting period, about individual cases of attacks on physicians and
hospitals in Gaza. The secretariat regularly posted on social media the WMA
Resolution which demands, among other things, respect by all parties for
international humanitarian law and the principle of medical neutrality to protect
health facilities, health personnel and patients.
In January,the WMA issued a press release to welcome the ceasefire that came into
effect in Israel and Gaza and to call for full protection of physicians and other health
professionals.
In February, the Israeli Medical Association informed the Secretary General of a
letter sent to the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Health denouncing the
restraint of prisonersand detainees in Israeli hospitals, which is contrary to medical
ethics and fundamental rights, and even constitutes real torture.
IRAN Late October, the secretariat received an urgent call for action from Amnesty
regarding the imminent risk of amputation of five men convicted of robbery. The
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Oct-Nov 2024
Source:
Amnesty
International /
Associate
Members / Media
WMA had already taken a position in support of some of those detained in 2022
(World Physician Leaders ExpressHorror at Latest Amputation News). A letter was
sent to the Iranian authorities calling for the immediate and unconditional abolition of
all forms of corporal punishment and for them to respect their international
obligations in terms of civil and political rights. This letter was followed by a press
release.
In November, recalling its Resolution on the abuse of psychiatry, on social media the
WMA expressed concerns that political dissidents are detained in psychiatric
institutions and subjected to unnecessary psychiatric treatment as a punishment, not
to treat a substantiated psychiatric illness.
KENYA
February 2025
Source:
Kenya Med. Ass
In February, the Kenya Medical Association asked for the support of the WMA to
oppose the unlawful encroachment of scope of practice of healthcare
paraprofessionals into physician work, in particular clinicians (medical assistants)
who claim to be sufficiently qualified to perform caesarean sections even though they
have not received adequate training for this purpose.
The Secretary General sent a letter of support to the Kenya Medical Association and
the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS) regarding their position
on the critical importance of maintaining the highest standards of surgical care in
maternal health. It warned that the expansion of the scope of practice for healthcare
professionals without clear, structured and evidence-based frameworks can have
devastating consequences, in particular in countries where maternal mortality and
morbidity remain national concerns.
RUSSIA
Nov. 2024
Sources:
Media, WMA
members
The WMA issued a press release in November 2024 calling for the immediate
release of Dr Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old paediatrician.She was condemned
to five and a half years prison by a Moscow court for ‘anti-war’ remarks allegedly
made during a private medical appointment. In the press release, Dr Ashok Philip
warns that such a conviction seriously undermines the patient-physician relationship,
which is based on trust and which should never be subject to political interference.
SYRIA
March 2025
Sources: Media
In March, referring to its Resolution on the Protection of Health Care Facilities
and Personnel in Syria, the WMA condemned the massacres targeting Alevi
citizens in Syria and reminded that healthcare and civilians must be protected at all
times.
TURKEY
Oct. 2024
Sources:
TMA / Physicians
for Human Rights
/ Amnesty
international
The Secretariat and WMA’s members remain mobilised to support the TMA, which
has been facing pressure from the Turkish authorities since October 2022.
During the report period, the secretariat promoted the campaign of Amnesty
International in support of Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Past President of the TMA,
who was sentenced to more than 2 years, 8 months imprisonment on charges of
“propaganda for a terrorist organization”. She has appealed against the sentence.
UGANDA
Feb. 2025
Sources: Uganda
Med. Ass., media
In February, the WMA Secretary General sent a letter to the Uganda Medical
Association in support of its request for an urgent independent medical assessment
and adequate treatment for Dr Kizza Besigye, who is currently in detention and
whose state of health has seriously deteriorated.
UKRAINE See below Chapter II. 6, Medical Support for Ukraine
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2.3 Violence against healthcare in areas of armed conflict and other situations of violence
The WMA continues to denounce attacks against healthcare across the globe and to
advocate for sustainable prevention strategies globally, including in the context of the
current intergovernmental negotiations for a WHO convention, agreement or other
international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (see item 4.3
below).
2.3.1 “Health Care in Danger” (HCiD) initiative
The WMA Secretariat has a close working relationship with the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters within the context of the “Health Care in Danger”
(HCiD) initiative. With the reduction in funding for the initiative, activities have decreased
in recent years. However, the ICRC-led HCiD Community of Concern (CoC)1 continues to
meet regularly, enabling the exchange of up-to-date information between partners and the
exploration of possible joint actions on advocacy and monitoring of violence against
healthcare.
2.3.2 ICRC project on the use of emblems and other signs to protect healthcare
In October 2023, the ICRC invited the WMA to participate in a project on the use of
emblems and other signs to protect healthcare, through the contributions of medical
associations in selected countries (Australia, Brazil, Colombia, DRC, Egypt, El Salvador,
France, Germany, India, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Spain, South
Africa, UK, and the US) to a qualitative study led by researchers from Kings College
London. The Secretariat liaised with the WMA constituent members concerned, most of
whom responded positively and contributed to the study. The outcome of the study should
be published soon.
2.3.3 Collaborative Forum on Attacks against Health Professionals
The WMA is part of the Collaborative Forum on Attacks against Health Professionals
initiated by the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the US National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) to engage in information sharing and
explore possibilities for individual and joint action. During the period under review, C.
Delorme followed the activities of the Forum and reported on the WMA’s recent activities
to combat violence against physicians, including the policies adopted by the General
Assembly in Helsinki.
In December, an article addressing the pressing issue of attacks on healthcare
professionals, both in the United States and globally, was published in The Lancet. Entitled
‘Mobilising the health community to protect healthcare from attack’, the article was co-
authored by Dr Lujain AlQodmani, the Immediate Past President of the WMA, and other
leaders of medical and nursing organisations and researchers in the field, under the
direction of the Forum. The article was promoted on social media.
1 The HCiD convenesa global dialogue through the Community ofConcerns (CoC) which bring togetherrepresentatives
of international health and/or humanitarian organizations concerned with the issue of violence against healthcare,such as
the WMA, MédecinsSansFrontières (MSF), the International Committee ofMilitary Medicine (ICMM),the International
Council of Nurses (ICN), the International Hospital Federation (IHF), the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition,
Médecins du Monde and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), among others.
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2.3.4 Other activities related to violence against health care
The open letter calling for the safeguarding of healthcare facilities and personnel in areas
of conflict, in accordance with international law, published by the World Health
Professions Alliance (WHPA) in February 2024 continues to receive support from
representatives of the health community and civil society.
2.4 Prevention of torture and ill-treatment
The WMA Secretariat follows relevant international activities in this area, including those
of the Human Rights Council.
Dr O. Kloiber, Secretary General, and C. Delorme, policy advisor, WMA secretariat,
participated in the seminar on “Medical matters in detention” organised by the
International Criminal Court on 19-20 September 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. The
event gathered physicians, medical experts, legal advisors, human rights lawyers, prison
directors, other medical and detention stakeholders to share experiences and exchange
views on key medical issues in detention. The secretariat promoted the report of the
seminar which was published in January.
2.5 Mental health and human rights
Since 2017, the WMA Secretariat, with the support of Dr Miguel Jorge, psychiatrist and
WMA Past President, has been monitoring international activities related to the promotion
of mental health as a global priority and a fundamental human right, with the aim of
providing the physicians’ perspective in the discussion.
The WMA delivered a statement at the WHO Executive Board 156th session in February,
welcoming the WHO’s proposal to make mental health a priority item on the agenda of the
WHO’s governing bodies.Itemphasised that mental health is a fundamental element of
universal health coverage that requires full integration into health systems, particularly at
the primary health care level.
2.6 Health through peace
2.6.1 Prevention of nuclear weapons
Further to the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), the WMA, the
International Council of Nurses (ICN), the international Federation of Medical Students
(IFMSA) and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) have been
collaborating on the need to promote the global health imperative to eliminate nuclear
weapons and to advocate for the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons.
During the reporting period, the secretariat had regular contact with IPPNW to discuss
strategies to place the issue of nuclear weapons’ prevention on the global health agenda, in
particular, to advocate for the update of WHO’s 1987 report “Effects of nuclear war on
health and health services”.
2.6.2 WHO Global Health and Peace Initiative (GPHI)
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The secretariat continues to monitor the development of the WHO proposed Global Health
and Peace Initiative (GPHI), in collaboration with the ICRC, MSF (Médecins sans
Frontières) and ICN (International Council of Nurses). Specifically, we call for more
clarity and details to guarantee the impartial provision of health care and adequate working
conditions for health personnel, allowing them to strictly comply with their ethical duty to
protect the health and well-being of their patients.
The 77th World Health Assembly (May 2024) adopted a resolution requesting the WHO
Director-General to continue to work on the GHPI in view of a possible, consensual
strengthened road map for adoption by the 2029 World Health Assembly.
2.7 Sexual orientation and gender identity
2.7.1 Medical ethics and eligibility regulations of World Athletics for classifying female
athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD)
In July 2021, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) contacted the Secretariat recommending that the WMA consider an amicus
brief submission as a third party in connection with the case Semenya v Switzerland
at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), given its position in April 2019,
raising strong concerns on the ethical validity of World Athletics’ regulation. The WMA
agreed and has since then been collaborating with the Global Health Justice Partnership
(GHJP) of the Yale Law School and School of Public Health, which has sound expertise
grounded in both health and law. A joint amicus brief was submitted in October 2021 and
the European Court handed down its decision on 11 July 2023, ruling in favour of Caster
Semenya. Referring to our amicus brief, the Court specifies that imposing a treatment that
may cause significant side effects, not for strictly medical reasons but in order to comply
with the eligibility conditions set out in the DSD Regulations, is not compatible with
international standards of medical ethics.The request from Switzerland to refer the case to
the Grand chamber having been accepted, the WMA and GHJP submitted an intervention
in January 2024 based on the amicus brief, which was updated in light of new DSD
regulations (March 2023). The procedure is still in progress.
2.7.2 Violence against women and girls in sport
In March 2024, the WMA submitted comments in response to the call for input issued by
Ms Reem Alsalem, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls (SR
VAWG) for the report on ‘violence against women and girls in sport’. WMA contests the
validity of the World Athletics’ eligibility rules for female classification from the point of
view of human rights and medical ethics.
Following the submission of WMA comments, Clarisse Delorme presented the WMA’s
position at an online expert consultation convened by the Special Rapporteur in June in
preparation of her thematic report which was then presented to the 79th session of the
United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.
3. PUBLIC HEALTH
3.1 Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
General
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Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, as well as mental health disorders, are now
the dominant cause of death and disability across the world.
WMA is a member of the WHO Global Noncommunicable Diseases Platform (GNP),
which is a Department in the Division for UHC, Communicable and Noncommunicable
Diseases. The purpose of GNP is “to coordinate the United Nations system and mobilize
non-State actors and complement and enhance WHO’s work in supporting governments to
develop whole-of-government and whole-of-society responses to address Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) target 3.4 and other NCD-related SDGs”.
WMA is also a member of the WHO Civil Society Working Group on NCDs. One aim
of this workgroup is to provide recommendations to the WHO Director-General on how to
meaningfully mobilize civil society to advocate for a highly successful 4th high-level
meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on NCDs in September 2025. Its
second aim encourages strong civil society involvement and government commitment to
include prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion, protection and care of mental
health in national UHC benefit packages; and to strengthen public health functions and
institutions to be more responsive to NCDs, mental health and wellbeing.
The WMA delivered a statement on the follow-up to the Political Declaration of the 4th
High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-
communicable diseases at the 156th session of WHO Executive Board (February 2025).
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Noncommunicable Disease Platform, in
collaboration with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and the World
Medical Association, launched a call for application for an incentive research grant for
young researchers in the area of integrated care pathways for the prevention and control
of NCDs and mental health conditions. The research should have whole-of-government
and whole-of-society approaches to generate knowledge and support the scaling-up of
proven cost-effective interventions. The application closed at the beginning of 2025 and a
review is taking place at the moment.
WMA welcomes the UN Secretary General report on NCDs, which leads to the zero draft
outcome document of the High-Level meeting on NCDs which highlighted the need to:
‘Strengthen a people-centred continuum of care across community, primary, secondary
and tertiary healthcare levels, ensuring seamless service provision throughout the referral
process through orientation towards primary healthcare, and accessibility for persons with
disabilities, in line with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities’. A strong and supported health workforce is needed for this implementation.
To strengthen this advocacy message the NCD Alliance developed a policy research
report, which provides an overview of global developments, and the challenges and
opportunities associated with optimising the health and care workforce to expedite efforts
to address NCDs. WMA gave one of the key interviews and is a member of the NCD
Alliance Expert Advisory group.
Tobacco
The WMA is involved in the implementation process of the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international treaty that condemns tobacco
as an addictive substance, imposes bans on advertising and promotion of tobacco, and
reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. In February 2025, the
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WHO celebrated the 20th anniversary of FCTC and WMA joined with social media
activities.
Alcohol
Within the context of the collaboration plan between WHO and WMA, the WMA
contributed to the development and promotion of the WHO action plan 2022-2030 to
effectively implement the WHO Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
During the reporting period, the Secretariat liaised with the WHO unit responsible for
implementing the action plan, and with the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), a key
partner of the WMA in this area.
3.2 Communicable diseases
Immunisation
For many years WHO has set the flu immunization target for the society at 75%, however
in many countries it stays far below this goal. Now we are facing two additional annual
respiratory challenges: COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination, of which WMA is a member, developed the
2024 flu immunisation campaign to target a 75% uptake of the triple immunisation against
flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Various materials were developed to support the awareness-
raising effort and social media campaign, which started with an event on 14 October 2024.
Furthermore, the Steering committee released a statement to promote the immunization
against infections as a primary prevention tool in communicable and non-communicable
diseases across the life course of individuals.
WMA together with other health professional organisations, the World Federation of
Public Health Associations (WFPHA) and International Federation on Ageing (IFA) joined
the Call to Action to advocate for life-course vaccination. The call highlights importance
of comprehensive vaccination programs across the entire life course, with particular
attention to safeguarding populations at risk, including health and social care professionals,
who face serious and potentially life-altering consequences due to vaccine-preventable
diseases.
3.3 Health and populations exposed to discrimination
Women and health
Prior to the International day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25
November, Dr Lujain AlQodmani, WMA President at the time, signed the Kigali
Declaration to end FGM/C “From Rhetoric to Reality: Closing the Funding Gap and
Uniting for Action to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting”, an initiative of the Global
Platform for Action to end FGM/C.
To mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation on 6
February, the WMA Statement on Female Genital Mutilation was promoted on social
media.
Refugees, migrants & access to health
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The WMA Secretariat follows the agenda of the Health and Migration Programme of the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and promotes its activities related to health
issues, while bringing forward the recommendations of WMA policies related to migrants’
health care.
3.4 Social determinants of health (SDH) and universal health coverage (UHC)
One of the most important global health topics is how countries can offer universal health
coverage to all, especially in marginalised societies, and to protect people from financial
hardship. The UN General Assembly has twice held a High-Level Meeting on Universal
Health Coverage, in New York in 2019 and 2023.
UHC2030 is the global movement to build stronger health systems for UHC. Members are
countries, multi-lateral organisations, global initiatives, philanthropic organisations and
NGOs. WMA is an active member of this network and was appointed in the past to the
civil society advisory group. WMA has been selected to be a member of the UHC2030
Task Force. The network builds connections through joint high-level events and gatherings
and contributes advocacy, tools, guidance, knowledge and learning.
3.5 Health and the environment
3.5.1 WMA Environment Workgroup
The 223rd WMA Council in Nairobi (April 2023) decided to set up a Workgroup on
Environment, mandated to support WMA advocacy work in the field of environment and
health. Its role is also to organise an Environment Caucus in parallel with statutory WMA
meetings to promote discussion and information exchange within the WMA membership at
large. The Workgroup is currently chaired by Ankush Bansal, Associate Member.
As the members of the workgroup are appointed by the Chair of Council in the same cycle
as the standing committees of the WMA Council, its composition will be renewed at the
Council meeting in Montevideo in April. This follows a call for expressions of interest.
During the reporting period, the Environment Workgroup met to prepare the Environment
Caucus meeting scheduled for April 2025 in Montevideo, to discuss the revision of WMA
policies on environment under review in 2025, and WMA advocacy work on international
climate change activities.
3.5.2 Climate change
The WMA is a member of the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action
on Climate Change and Health set up in May 2019. The Working Group aims to foster a
strong, sustained health voice informing national and international decision-making on
climate change and drive urgent action on climate change. The proposed strategic
partnership is well in line with the agreed collaboration plans between WHO and WMA
for the periods 2022-2024 and 2025-2027.
United Nations Climate Change intergovernmental negotiations:
▪ The WMA was represented at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP29 (Baku,
Azerbaijan, 11-22 November 2024) with a delegation of four in-person and three virtual
delegates from the United States, Kuwait, Egypt, Austria, Mexico, Luxembourg, and
India. This was led by Dr Lujain AlQodmani and Dr Ankush Bansal. Due to the
reduced permitted attendance at COP 29, the WMA delegation was unable to plan for
and secure speaking engagements at roundtables or side events, but collaborated
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actively with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, academics, students, and scientists in the
climate and health space from around the world through the Global Climate and Health
Alliance (GCHA) and daily policy meetings. An article is being published soon in the
World Medical Journal.
▪ It is planned that a small delegation attend the intermediate UN climate change
sessions (SB 62), from 16 to 26 June 2025 in Bonn, Germany.
WHO Resolution on Climate Change and Health
The WMA took the initiative with a WHPA constituency statement on climate change and
health at the WHO Executive Board 156th session (February 2025), calling for an
ambitious and comprehensive implementation plan for the World Health Assembly
Resolution on climate change and health.
3.5.3 Air pollution
Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health: Accelerating action
for clean air, clean energy access and climate change mitigation, in collaboration with
the Republic of Colombia, 25-27 March 2025, Cartagena, Colombia:
▪ In February, the WMA signed the call to action from the health community, launched
by the WHO in the run-up to its Conference on Air Pollution and Health. The call was
jointly initiated with several global health organisations, including the WMA. The call
was shared with WMA members and promoted on social media.
▪ Dr Lujain AlQodmani, WMA Immediate Past President, was invited as one of the
official speakers at the Conference. She took part in a parallel session “Heat and
wildfires: at the nexus of climate change, air pollution and health” co-organised by
WHO and the Government of Columbia. Also representing the WHPA, Dr AlQodmani
advocated for the health professions at the event. Finally, she also spoke at a high-level
roundtable “Advancing Policy Action and Health Leadership to Combat Air Pollution”
organised in parallel to the official conference by the Global Climate and Health
Alliance in partnership with the Clean Air Fund.
3.5.4 Chemical pollution
The WMA sees the reduction of environmental contamination from chemicals as a critical
public health issue. The WMA supports the Global Framework on Chemicals – for a
Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste, which aims to promote chemical
safety around the world and to minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment
and human health.
Dr Peter Orris, former co-chair of the WMA Environment Caucus and expert on the WMA
Environment Workgroup, follows the negotiations on the implementation of the
Minamata Mercury Convention. The secretariat provides members with relevant updates
on the Minamata Convention implementation process and its impact on health.
Further to the adoption of the WMA Resolution on Plastics and Health in Helsinki, Dr
Otmar Kloiber and Clarisse Delorme met with representatives of the IFPMA (International
Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations) in December 2024. They
discussed the issue of plastic pollution and health and the progress of the plastic treaty
negotiations following the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
(INC-5).
3.5.5 My Green Doctor
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The WMA partners with the Florida Medical Association (FMA) on a joint project “My
Green Doctor”. This project is a medical office environmental management service
offered free of charge to members of the World Medical Association (WMA) and the
Florida Medical Association (FMA). The initial version of My Green Doctor was launched
by the FMA on World Earth Day 2010. In June 2014, the WMA and FMA agreed to work
together on this project. My Green Doctor provides a free practice management tool
designed by doctors to make medical offices more environmentally friendly. The My
Green Doctor website is available in the “What we do – Education” section of the WMA
website. Calls to action are regularly published on the WMA social media channels and in
the WMA Newsletter.
3.6 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Medical Technologies
In August 2023, the Secretariat was contacted by the Health Division of the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) offering to collaborate with the
WMA on a survey on the implications of artificial intelligence tools on the healthcare
workforce (perceptions, involvement, and readiness of medical associations for the
adoption of artificial intelligence). The Secretariat contributed to the development of the
survey which was circulated to all WMA constituent members in October 2023. Early
2024, the OECD Health Division consulted the Secretariat on the preliminary report based
on the survey results. The publication of the OECD report “Artificial Intelligence and
the Health Workforce: Perspectives from medical associations on AI in health” was
officially launched at an OECD webinar on 22 November 2024, with the participation of
representatives of medical associations who are WMA members.
Between January and May 2025, Dr Jesse Ehrenfeld (American Medical Association) and
Dr Jacob Mathew (Kuwait Medical Association) from the WMA Workgroup on Medical
Technology are offering WMA members a series of five educational webinars on
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine covering various aspects of the use of AI and the
opportunities and challenges it presents for physicians. During the reporting period, the
first three webinars took place on the following topics: Introduction to AI in Medicine (30
January); Ethics, Legal, and Regulatory Aspects (27 February) and Current and Future
Applications of AI in Medicine (27 March). The three webinars were live-streamed and
attracted a large number of participants. The webinar recordings, available on the WMA
YouTube channel, were promoted on social media.
4. HEALTH SYSTEMS
4.1 World Patient Safety Day
WMA is again member of the World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) Steering Committee and
at its first meeting its decided that the WPSD 2025 will have the theme “safety of
newborns and children” WMA is working closely with WHO and the steering committee
to develop a campaign and communication activities around that day.
The VII Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety entitled “Weaving Strengths for the
Future of Patient Safety Throughout the Healthcare Continuum” took place in Manila,
the Philippines at the beginning of April 2025. WMA was member of the Conference
Steering Committee to help to shape the agenda and list of invited speakers. WMA
president Dr Ashok Philip spoke in a panel session on Creating Psychologically Safe and
Healthy Workplaces. This discussion explored the principles and practices that contribute
to creating psychologically safe and healthy workplaces, where employees feel valued,
respected, and empowered to share their ideas without fear of judgment. The discussion
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also addressed the global health workforce shortage, the increased workplace pressure on
the individual health personnel and the impact on decreased quality of care.
During August and September 2024, WMA members had the opportunity to participate in
a survey by OECD to express their experiences with the increasing financialization of
ambulatory care. In many economies commercial enterprises are buying outpatient care
settings as investments. This brings the danger of undue (fiscal) interests interfering with
the interests of patients and their medical care. Upon discussion with WMA, OECD
offered to open their questionnaire, originally addressed to the member governments, to
the WMA membership. The results are expected to be out soon.
4.2 Antimicrobial resistance & One Health
During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week in November 2024, WMA together with the
members of WHPA organised a webinar on the outcomes of the Antimicrobial Resistance
(AMR) High-Level Meeting in September in 2024 and how it contributes to ongoing
efforts to tackle AMR. The panel concluded that the approach on AMR in low-, middle-
and high-income countries varies and specific public health messaging needs to be
developed to promote antimicrobial stewardship among both professionals and the general
public. Further they gave examples of interprofessional collaboration on AMR.
WMA together with WHO is developing an AMR Toolkit for physicians and constituent
members, gathering existing tools and guidelines on the main concepts of AMR handling:
awareness, education, stewardship, behaviour change, advocacy, regulation and
surveillance.
WMA joined the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform, which aims to engage
and empower a multitude of cross-sectoral stakeholder voices to preserve antimicrobials as
lifesaving medicines and ensure their responsible use under a One Health approach. The
secretariat of this platform is hosted by the Quadripartite organisations (Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), WHO, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)).
In September 2024, the UN General Assembly President convened a High-Level Meeting
on AMR (HLM AMR). In the months prior to this meeting, the WMA was engaged in
negotiations on the High-Level Meeting on AMR outcome document, emphasising the
necessity of health care system strengthening and the important role of health professionals
in the fight against AMR. This year’s partnership forum meeting focused on fostering
sustainable partnerships and financing to accelerate national and global responses to AMR.
WMA is participating in the global consultation on the WHO draft People-Centred
Framework for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the human health
sector. The framework consists of interventions that span four pillars critical to overcome
people and systems’ challenges to address AMR – prevention of infections, access to
essential health services, timely and accurate diagnosis, and appropriate, quality-assured
treatment. The people-centred framework should inform governments on the prioritization
of country actions in the human health sector at the different levels of implementation, in a
manner that is integrated with broader health system strengthening and pandemic
preparedness efforts.
The WMA has been invited to join the PREZODE initiative, which brings together
governments, research institutions, academia, civil society, health agencies, and other
relevant entities from around the world. It aims to advance research, advocacy and
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international collaboration to prevent, reduce and tackle the emergence of zoonotic
diseases. The Executive Committee recommended joining the initiative as it aligns well
with WMA policies on emergency prevention.
4.3 Health emergencies
In December 2021, the World Health Assembly decided to develop a WHO convention,
agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and
response (“Pandemic Treaty”), and WMA is actively engaged in the process. The
instrument will have recommendations for strengthening pandemic preparedness and
response according to the following categories: leadership and governance, systems and
tools, and financing and equity. Furthermore, it should be seen as an additional tool for
WHO alongside the International Health Regulations, which aim to prevent the
international spread of disease since 1969 (last revised in 2005).
The WMA has been following the sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body
(INB), which is charged with drafting the WHO instrument, and has contributed to various
public hearings during the reporting period. In recent years, WMA wrote several
constituency statements to the INB secretariat, together with WHPA. These statements had
concrete suggestions for re-wording the draft version. In addition, we contacted the
diplomatic missions in Geneva insisting that health workforce strengthening should be a
crucial component, while ensuring continuous provision of other essential health and care
services.
Many of our suggestions were taken on in the draft version of the document and we
received very positive feedback from several missions on our interventions on the current
draft version during the WHO Executive Board meeting. At the various public hearings of
the INB, we reiterated our demands on health care system strengthening and better support
of the health workforce in a public statement to the INB bureau and interested missions.
Furthermore, we requested alignment with existing WHO guiding documents related to the
health workforce. The negotiations are ongoing and WMA participates in the frequent
meetings. The active participation in this process is very time- and energy-consuming and
the WMA Secretariat would like to thank the JDN and our Associate Members Dr Yassen
Tcholakov and Dr Wenzhen Zuo for their constant support.
In an additional bid to better prepare the world for another possible health emergency,
WHO is amending the International Health Regulations. The WMA took part in most of
the meetings of the WHO Working Group on amendments to the International Health
Regulations (2005) (WGIHR), which took place between November 2022 and now. The
amendments to the International Health Regulations aim to complement the IHR and INB
documents.
4.4 Health workforce
WMA is a member of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) to the Third Review of the WHO
Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The
interims recommendation of the Advisor Boards is to add additional elements to the WHO
Global Code of Practice from 2010:
• The provisions of the Code also apply to health personnel who migrate and take up
employment positions as care workers in destination countries. Now only migrants
who work as health personnel are counted.
• Member States with a high reliance on international health personnel, irrespective
of the pathway of mobility or type of recruitment, could consider modalities of
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support focused on mutually beneficial approaches, such as targeted co-investments
in partnership with source countries in specific areas of the health workforce and
health systems in the source countries.
• Development banks, donor agencies and financial and development institutions and
countries with responsibility for emergency financing, should develop emergency
financing modalities to mitigate the risk of excessive health workforce depletion
during crises arising from a variety of causes.
Further these agencies are encouraged to co-invest in priority areas of health systems
identified by countries as requiring support, with investments across the entire health
worker life cycle (education, employment, and retention) to optimize the management and
performance of the health workforce and improve population health. The next step is that
WHO facilitate regional consultations with Member States to review the interim report of
the Expert Advisory Group.
At the World Health Assembly 2025, in May, six resolutions dealing with the health
workforce will be discussed. This prioritisation together with the 5th round of reporting on
the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel,
encouraged WMA to gather data on migration specifically of physicians from our
membership base. We would like to thank all members who participated in the survey, and
we aim to have the WMA report on migration of physicians ready for the WHA 2025 in
May this year.
“The health workforce shortage and the potential ways out of the current healthcare
crisis” was the theme of the annual MMS Symposium in October 2024. Dr Julia Tainijoki
spoke about how to enhance health systems to fully utilize the capabilities of health
professionals and thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
5. HEALTH POLICY & EDUCATION
5.1 Medical and health policy development and education
See under chapter III “Partnerships and collaboration.”
5.2 Support for national constituent members
In September 2024, the Albanian Order of Physicians informed us about a law proposal
which had been introduced shortly before. The proposal would alter disciplinary
mechanisms in a way that would finally put the independence of the Order in question.
Other than the law requires the proposal, it had neither been announced to the Order, nor
had the Order been heard. On request of the Order the WMA wrote to the health committee
of the Albanian Parliament to see discussion with the Order, so that their concerns could be
heard. WMA offered further support to the Albanian Colleagues.
See Chapter I, item 2.2 “Protecting patients and physicians.”
CHAPTER II PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION
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1. REGIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND STANDING CONFERENCES
The WMA entertains a regular and close relation to the regional groups of medical
associations, the African Coalition of Medical Associations, the Confederation of Medical
Associations of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO), the Confederación Médica Latinoamericana y
del Caribe (CONFEMEL), Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), the European
Forum of Medical Associations (EFMA), the Medical Associations of the member states of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (MASEAN) and the Southeast European Medical
Forum.
During the reporting period, the WMA Secretariat held bilateral meetings with the WHO and
staff of other UN agencies on various areas and voiced the WMA’s opinion and concerns in
public settings as follows2:
2. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
156th Executive Board (February 2025)
– Universal Health Coverage (constituency statement)
– Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General
Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
– Mental health and social connection
– Health and care workforce (constituency statement)
– Universal health and preparedness review
– Climate change and health (constituency statement)
Other WHO meetings attended during the reporting period:
– Dr Lujain AlQodmani was selected to join the Steering Committee of the WHO Civil
Society Commission as a representative of the World Medical Association
– WHO World Patient Safety Day 2024 Global Conference: “Improving diagnostic safety and
implementing the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030”
– Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or
other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (INB),
WHO Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)
– WHO World Patient Safety Day 2025 Global Conference: “safety for newborn and child
health”
– Launch of the WHO handbook on integrated care for older people (ICOPE): guidance for
person-centred assessment and pathways in primary care
– Dr Julia Tainijoki gave a presentation on patient’s rights at the Geneva Conference on
Person Centered Medicine
– Dr Lujain AlQodmani represented the WMA and the WHPA at the Second WHO Global
Conference on Air Pollution and Health: Accelerating action for clean air, clean energy
access and climate change mitigation, 25-27 March 2025, Cartagena, Colombia
– Dr Yassen Tcholakov, WMA Advisor, represented WMA at the 13th meeting of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) for a WHO instrument on pandemic prevention,
preparedness and response in February 2025. WMA Statement delivered.
– WMA Junior Doctors Network Immediate Past President Marie-Claire Wangari and Dr
Yassen Tcholakov, participated in the WHO Youth Council in September 2024. Pablo
Estrella Porter is the WMA JDN representative for 2024-2026.
– The Chair of the WMA MEC and the Secretary General participated 2024 and 2025 in a
WHO working group on Clinical Ethics. The work focusses on the need for ethics support in
clinical settings. A report is foreshadowed for the middle of 2025.
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3. OTHER UN AGENCIES
AGENCY ACTIVITIES
Human Rights Council (HRC) of the
United Nations
– Monitoring activities related to health
– Promotion of relevant HRC activities on
human rights and health through the
WMA’s media channels
UN Special Rapporteurs (SR) on the right to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health / on
violence against women and girls / on torture
– Monitoring the activities of the SR and
promotion of relevant activities through the
WMA’s media channels
UNAIDS – Regular exchange of information
OECD – Regular exchange of information
– The collaboration on Artificial Intelligence
started in August 2023 between the WMA
and the Health Division of the OECD
resulted in the publication of the OECD
report “Artificial Intelligence and the Health
Workforce: Perspectives from medical
associations on AI in health” in November
2024
– Collaboration on surveying WMA members
and partner organization on the
financialization of ambulatory care
International Organisation for Migration
(IOM), Health Division
– Regular exchange of information
– Promotion of relevant IOM activities on
migration and health through WMA’s media
channels
– OECD High-Level Policy Forum on the
Future of People-Centred Health Innovation
4. WORLD HEALTH PROFESSIONS ALLIANCE (WHPA)
WHPA revised its statement on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, first adopted in 2013.
The revision highlights the importance of continuity of care. It addresses chronically ill patients
better and pays more attention to marginalised populations. An important element is improved
working conditions and a new paragraph deals with health data, technologies, and AI.
During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week in November 2024, WHPA organised a webinar
on the outcomes of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) High-Level Meeting in September in
2024. For more information please see 4.2
5. MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
With the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, the WMA Secretariat, its members and
partners immediately mobilised to condemn the aggression and provide medical support to the
victims.
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In March 2022, the WMA together with the European Forum of Medical Associations (EFMA)
and the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) set up a Ukraine Medical Help
Fund to assist persons with medical needs suffering under the war. The fund is governed by a
taskforce composed of the founding members of the Fund (Steering Committee), in cooperation
with the Polish Chamber of Doctors and Dentists, the Slovakian Medical Association and the
Slovakian Medical Chamber, the Japan Medical Association, the French Medical Association
and the State Chamber of Physicians of Saxony. The activities are overseen by WMA Past-
President Prof. Dr Leonid Eidelman.
The primary purpose of the fund is to collect medical supplies and other equipment to maintain
health care in Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukrainian Medical Association as well as
member and partner organisations in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries.
WMA members were invited to contribute to the fund. As of 12 March 2025, t1 535 496.13
Euros remained in the fund after using these donations, for purchasing and delivering medical
equipment, supplies, medicine, field evacuation vehicles, blood bank equipement, warming
tents and transportation at 2 765 183.09 Euros.
We are grateful for the help we have received from many volunteers, especially at the State
Chamber of Physicians of Hesse, the University Hospital Frankfurt, and the private society
“Hope for Ukraine.”
A press release was issued: Medical Bodies Send Further Help to Besieged People of Ukraine
The fund is still live and further donations are welcomed. This assistance was underlined by
two resolutions of the General Assembly in Berlin: The “WMA Resolution in support of
Medical Personnel and Citizens of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion” and the “WMA
Resolution on Humanitarian and Medical Aid to Ukraine”.
6. WMA COOPERATING CENTRES
The WMA is proud to enjoy the support of academic cooperating centres. The WMA
Cooperating Centres bring specific scientific expertise to our projects and/or policy work,
improving our professional profile and outreach.
WMA Cooperating Centre Areas of cooperation
Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine,
University of Tübingen, Germany
Revising the Declaration of Helsinki, medical
ethics
Institut de droit de la santé, Université de
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
International health law, developing and
promoting the Declaration of Taipei, revising the
Declaration of Helsinki, medical ethics,
deontology, sports medicine
International Chair in Bioethics In recent years, the WMA has supported the
“International World Conference on Bioethics,
Medical Ethics and Health Law” organised by the
International Chair in Bioethics, previously
organized by Prof. Dr Amnon Carmi, now by
Prof. Rui Nunes, University of Porto. The
conference serves as a platform to discuss WMA’s
current policies with physicians, ethicists, and
other scientists.
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The growing international network of academic
ethics and law departments, which has been
meeting for the past two decades under the title
UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, has been
reorganised as the International Chair in
Bioethics – ICB. Following the Secretariat’s
proposal, the WMA Council agreed to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding with the ICB to
continue cooperation with this network and to
award it the status of a “WMA Cooperating
Centre”.
The 17th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical
Ethics and Health Law is scheduled for the 24-26
November 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
7. WORLD FEDERATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION
In 1972 the World Medical Association, along with the WHO and six regional representations
of medical faculties, founded the World Federation for Medical Education – WFME. The group
was later joined by the Educational Commission for foreign Medical Graduates, the
International Federation of Students Associations, and the Junior Doctors Network.
WFME has three major areas of work:
– The recognition programme evaluates agencies against internationally accepted criteria for
accreditation.
– The World Directory of Medical Schools is maintained together with FAIMER and other
organizations. It contains information on over 2,900 schools, both operational and
historical. Each record highlights available school details including start year, school type,
operational status, programme details and contact information.
– The Global Standards for Quality Improvement of Medical Education, covering basic
(undergraduate) medical education (BME); postgraduate medical education (PGME); and
continuing professional development (CPD) of medical doctors
The WFME recently published the revised Standards for Post-Graduate Medical Education and
is currently exploring to develop a system for the recognition of accreditation for PGME
analogue to its system in Basic Medical Education. The chair has asked Dr Hans-Albert Gehle
(German Medical Association) to represent the WMA in this exploration.
The World Medical Association has been invited to join the organising committee for the next
World Conference on Medical Education (a conference series that was initiated by the World
Medical Association in the 1950s) to be held in Bangkok 25-28 May 2025. The WMA Chair
has asked Prof. Carlos Serena (Brazilian Medical Association) to join the committee on
WMA’s behalf.
During August 2024, the members of the World Medical Association had an opportunity to
comment on the draft Standards for Continuing Professional Development. This work has been
accompanied by WMA President Elect Dr Ashok Philip. The final version of the Standard has
been published on the Website of WFME.
8. VIENNA CONGRESS 27 JANUARY 2025
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After being awarded the Golden Arrow in 2021, the World Medical Association has now
participated for the fifth time in the annual Vienna Congress, bringing together scientists,
Nobel Prize laurates, politicians, entrepreneurs, and medical leaders to discuss current
problems and innovative solutions. Dr Ashok Philip, WMA President, spoke at the 22nd Vienna
Congress in January 2025 which had the theme, “Europe of Tomorrow: Setting Directions”. He
addressed the importance of adapting to change while upholding core values. Dr Otmar
Kloiber, WMA Secretary General, was part of the panel discussion “AI: Pandora´s Box or
Universal Problem-Solver?”
9. WORLD CONTINUING EDUCATION ALLIANCE (WCEA)
The World Medical Association has signed an agreement with the WCEA to provide an online
education portal that will not only enable the WMA to host its online education but also offer
an opportunity for member associations to develop their own portals and online content. This
offer is directed specifically at medical associations and societies that wish to engage in
providing online education. Interested groups, medical schools or academies are invited to
contact wma@weca.education or visit www.wcea.education for more information. The
educational platform was launched in June 2018. In September 2019, the WMA also launched
courses for non-members. These courses have been updated and the new versions are available
at https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/education/wcea-cme-courses/. The member-accessible
portal is available in the members’ area after log-in.
10. OTHER PARTNERSHIPS OR COLLABORATIONS WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
Organisation Activity
Amnesty International Exchange of information and support on human rights issues
related to health and the protection of health personnel.
Committee on Human Rights
(CHR) of the US National
Academies of Sciences,
Engineering & Medicine
(NASEM)
– Member of the Collaborative Forum on Attacks against
Health Professionals set up by the NASEM Committee on
Human Rights in early 2022
– Regular exchange of information on attacks against health
personnel
Council for International
Organizations of Medical
Sciences (CIOMS)
Development of guidance for the scientific community on
medicine and health care in general. The WMA is a member
and currently represented on the Executive Board and
participates in various work groups on matters of research in
resource poor settings, patient information, and healthy
research subjects. Current publications can be found on the
website of CIOMS (http://chioms.ch)
Global Alliance on Alcohol
Policy (GAPA)
Regular exchange of information, in particular in the context
of the WHO action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement
the WHOs Global Alcohol Strategy as a public health priority.
Global Climate & Health
Alliance (GCHA)
WMA and GCHA agreed on a mutual partnership in 2023.
Regular exchange of information and collaboration within the
context of the UN Climate Change Conference and WHO-
Civil society Working group to Advance Action on Climate
and Health.
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Global Health Justice
Partnership of the Yale Law
School and School of Public
health (GHJP)
Joint submission as a third party in connection with the case
Semenya v Switzerland at the European Court of Human
Rights (pending)
Human Rights Watch Regular contact on issues of common interest, in particular,
on sexual orientation and gender identity
International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC)
– Partners on the Health Care in Danger (HCiD) project
since September 2011
– Memorandum of Understanding between the ICRC and
the WMA signed in November 2016
– Collaboration in the context of violence against health
personnel and on WHO Global Health and Peace Initiative
– Ad hoc consultations on WMA’s policies of shared
concern subjected to revision
International Council of
Military Medicine (ICMM)
– A Memorandum of Understanding between the ICMM and
the WMA was signed at the WMA General Assembly in
October 2017 (Chicago)
– Regular information exchange in the context of violence
against health personnel in conflict settings
International Federation of
Associations of
Pharmaceutical Physicians
(IFAPP)
Cooperation on issues of human experimentation and
pharmaceutical development & the role of physicians in this
process. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the
WMA General Assembly, October 2017 (Chicago), and was
renewed in February 2023.
Together with the WMA, IFAPP is exploring the possibility
of a course on medicines’ development for physicians in
clinical research, ethics committees or regulation.
International Federation of
Medical Students Associations
(IFMSA)
Internship programme since 2013.
Regular collaboration, mostly in relation to WHO statutory
meetings.
Participation of WMA officers and officials in the pre-World
Health Assembly IFMSA conference in Geneva.
International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear War
(IPPNW)
– Information exchange and regular joint actions since
January 2021 related to the entry into force of the UN
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
– During the reporting period, collaborate to advocate for
the update of WHO’s 1987 report “Effects of nuclear war
on health and health services”
International Rehabilitation
Council for Torture Victims
(IRCT)
– Regular exchange of information and joint actions on
specific cases or situations related to the role of health
personnel to prevent / document torture
– Ad hoc consultations on WMA’s policies of shared
concern subjected to revision
Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF)
– WMA and MSF agreed on a mutual partnership in 2023
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– Regular exchange of information and collaboration in the
context of violence against health personnel and on WHO
Global Health and Peace Initiative.
– MSF was involved in the revision process of the WMA
Declaration of Helsinki
Physicians for Human Rights
(PHR)
Regular exchange of information and joint actions on attacks
against health personnel and respect of the human right to
health.
Pontefical Academy for Life Cooperation on current issues of medical ethics or socio-
medical affairs i.e. the Declaration of Helsinki, by webinars
mutual invitation or joint events
Safeguarding Health in
Conflict Coalition
– Observer status in the coalition
– Regular exchange of information
Sustainable Health Equity
Movement (SHEM)
Joint advocacy for Health Equity
University of Pennsylvania
International Internship
Program
Annual internship programme on health policy, public health,
human rights, and project management. 2-3 students usually
come as interns to our office for the summer. The programme
has been running since 2014.
World Psychiatric Association
(WPA)
Regular contacts and exchange of information
World Veterinary Association
(WVA)
Common advocacy on matters like AMR, zoonotic diseases,
food safety, vaccination, and One Health as a general strategy.
CHAPTER III COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH
1. PRESS RELEASES
During this reporting period, 15 press releases have been issued to members for their advocacy
activities and to the media, as follows:
– Statement of Support for Spanish Junior Doctors
– Physician Leaders Urge U.S. to Sustain Global Health Support Amid Foreign Aid Review
– The World Medical Association Calls for Sustained Global Support of the World Health
Organization
– WMA commends Israel and Gaza ceasefire and calls for safeguarding of health
professionals
– The World Medical Association remains deeply concerned about the International
Federation of Medical Students Association’s suspension of its Israeli member
organization
– Quality care by health professionals is a cost-effective path to UHC: World Health
Professions Alliance
– WMA calls for ban on medical, nursing and midwifery training for women in Afghanistan
to be lifted
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– The World Medical Association urges global commitment for a just Plastic Treaty to
safeguard human and planetary health
– WMA joins call for Dr Nadezhda Buyanova’s immediate release and for all charges
against her to be dropped
– Global physician leader calls for stronger financial and political commitments to put health
at the center of COP29 negotiations
– WMA calls on Member States to adopt binding commitments on pandemic prevention,
preparedness, and response
– The World Medical Association calls on Iranian authorities to cease corporal punishment
and comply with their international obligations on civil and political rights
– The World Medical Association General Assembly 2024 in summary
– Revised Declaration of Helsinki adopted by the global medical community, strengthening
ethical standards in clinical research involving humans
– Physicians urged to actively participate in healthcare policy and health systems change to
safeguard professional autonomy: New Global Physician leader
2. WMA NEWSLETTER
The WMA Secretariat issues a bi-monthly e-newsletter for its members. The Secretariat
appreciates any comments and suggestions for developing this service and making it as useful
for members as possible. The Newsletter is sent to over 3,000 recipients, through a mailing
system that complies with GDPR regulations.
3. WMA SOCIAL MEDIA (TWITTER, LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND
BLUESKY)
The World Medical Association is active on five social media channels (X, LinkedIn, Facebook
Bluesky and YouTube). We encourage members to spread the word within their associations to
follow WMA activities on social media, and WMA interacts with members posts. Besides
communicating WMA activities, events and policies, the accounts have proved a powerful
advocacy tool for supporting WMA Constituent Members in difficult political and social
contexts.
X (formerly Twitter): the number of followers has grown to more than 16,560. There have been
increased interactions for WMA advocacy, short videos, and for new WMA policies and press
releases. Concerns exist over the neutrality of the platform.
LinkedIn: WMA has more than 12,400 followers, a major increase over the last 12 months.
Posts with most interactions include photos and videos from WMA-related events, short
videos, press releases and WMA advocacy actions.
Facebook: The account has more than 15,000 followers, with regular engagement by a small
group. The same WMA content is posted here as on the other social media channels.
Bluesky: The WMA opened an account on Bluesky, an alternative social media platform to X,
at the end of November 2024. The same content is posted here as across the other WMA social
media channels, and we are steadily building a base of followers with medical/public
health/medical ethics backgrounds.
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4. WORLD MEDICAL JOURNAL
The World Medical Journal (WMJ) is issued every three months and includes articles on WMA
activities and feature articles by members and partners. 2024 marked the 70th anniversary issue.
The WMJ is available on the WMA website in an electronic format. Dr Helena Chapma, holds
the position of editor-in-chief of the Journal, and it is managed by Ms Maira Sudraba of the
Latvian Medical Association.
5. WMA ANNUAL REPORT
The WMA started issuing Annual Reports in 2017. These reports highlight the main activities
of the WMA, focusing on the report of the President and events organised around topics such
as Health, Environment, NCDs, Influenza and Human Rights, but also on the categories of
WMA Membership and the Financial Report. They are available on the WMA website and a
limited number of copies are distributed at the WMA Council and General Assembly.
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ROLE
Ms Magda Mihaila, Communications and Media Manager, on parental leave from April 2024
to January 2025, has returned and she is now working at 60%. Ms Janice Blondeau is handling
the remaining 40% Communications and Media Manager role until the end of September 2025.
They share Communications and Press Officer responsibilities.
7. SECONDMENTS/INTERNSHIPS
We have been running an internship programme with the IFMSA since 2013. Our internship
programme with the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), has been running with two or three
interns per year since 2014, remotely in 2021, and in-person internships again since 2022.
During Winter 2025 WMA is hosting a fifth-year medical student from Germany for a five-
week internship.
8. JDN NEWSLETTER
The WMA Junior Doctors Network prepares and issues its own newsletter to inform about the
work of the JDN and on global, regional or national topics pertaining to the work of young
physicians. The JDN Newsletter is available on the WMA website in the JDN Section. The
current JDN publications director is Dr Venkatesh Karthikeyan (India).
9. WMA GLOSSARY
The WMA Glossary, which defines the terms in the WMA policies, was launched in October
2023 at the General Assembly. It is accessible through the members’ area of WMA’s website.
CHAPTER IV OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
1. STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2030
Led by Dr Jack Resneck, Jr., Chair of the Finance and Planning Committee, the WMA
Executive Committee initiated a discussion on updating the strategic plan, which will expire in
2025. The first brainstorming session was held in Rome in January 2024 and the second
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broader session during the General Assembly in Helsinki. Updates from those two sessions
have been sent to the members and the external stakeholders for their feedback, which will be
considered by the Council in Montevideo.
CHAPTER V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Secretariat wishes to record its appreciation of member associations and individual members
for their interest in, and cooperation with, the World Medical Association and its Council during the
past year. We thank all those who have represented the WMA at various meetings and gratefully
acknowledge the collaboration and guidance received from the officers, as well as the Association’s
editors, its legal, public relations and financial advisors, staff of constituent members, council
advisors, associate members, friends of the association, cooperating centres, partner organisations
and officials.
We wish to mention the excellent working relationships we have with colleagues and experts in
international, regional, and national organizations, be they (inter-)governmental or private. We
highly appreciate their willingness and efforts to enable our cooperation.
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19.03.2025