WMA Annual General Assembly, Edinburgh – 3-7 October 2000

The World Medical Association is holding its 52nd Annual General Assembly in Edinburgh, Scotland from Tuesday 3 October to Saturday 7 October 2000 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.

Address: 1 Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SR, Scotland
Telephone: (44) 131 229 91 31
Fax: (44) 131 228 4510

The four-day schedule will be as follows:

• The three Standing Committees (Medical Ethics, Socio Medical and Finance and Planning) will meet on Tuesday 3 October and the Scientific Sessions will take place on Wednesday 4 October and on the morning of Thursday 5 October.
• The main meeting of the Council Session will take place on Friday 6 October.
• The Assembly Ceremonial Session will take place after the Council Session on Friday 6 October.
• The Assembly Plenary Session will be held on the afternoon of Friday 6 October, and will be continued on Saturday 7 October.

Among the main issues to be debated by the WMA committees, Council and Assembly are:

• The Declaration of Helsinki
  A revised version of the historic Declaration, governing medical research on humans, will be debated throughout the week and if approved, will be adopted by the General Assembly.
• Human Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation
  Following a review of the issues surrounding transplantation, a proposed Statement will be debated, setting out advice for physicians and medical associations.
• Prison Conditions and the Spread of Tuberculosis and other Communicable Diseases
  A proposed Statement will be debated calling on governments to address urgently the public health risks posed by prisons.

/more follows

World Medical Association Scientific Sessions
Wednesday 4th – Thursday 5th October 2000

Overall Theme: “Questions and Answers about Human Life and the Human Genome”

Day 1

Wednesday 4 October 2000 – Morning MEDICAL EDUCATION

Chairman: Sir Christopher Paine (BMA President)
Co-Chairman: Professor J. Blahos (WMA President)

09h00-09h45 Lifelong Learning – Overview from Scotland
Professor Graeme R. D. Catto DSc FRCP FRSE
Chief Scientist, Scottish Executive
(30 minutes plus 15 minutes for questions)

09h45-10h30 The Globalisation of Medical Education
Professor Hans Karle
President, World Federation of Medical Education

10h30-11h00 Coffee Break

11h00-11h45 Medical Education and Professional Development: The South African Medical Association Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa
Dr Percy Mahlati
Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the South African Medical Association

11h45-12h30 Panel Discussion with Sir Christopher, Prof. Catto, Prof. Karle and Dr Mahlati, chaired by Prof. Blahos

12h30-14h00 Lunch
Wednesday 4 October – Afternoon LOBBYING FOR HEALTH

Chairman – Professor Sir David Carter (BMA President Elect)
Professor J. Blahos (WMA President)

14h00-14h30 Genetics, the Future and the Media
Dr Harry Griffin
The Roslin Institute

14h30-14h50 Questions

14h50-15h10 A Parliamentarian’s View of What is Needed from
Lobbyists
Mrs Margaret Smith, Member of the Scottish Parliament

15h10-15h30 Questions

15h30-16h00 Coffee Break

16h00-17h30 Debate on Coverage of Health Stories
Dr Richard Smith, Editor – British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Ms Penny Taylor, Ex – BBC Health Correspondent
Day 2

Thursday 5 October – Morning DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH POLICY

Chairman: Professor James McEwen, (President, Faculty of Public
Health Medicine)
Professor J. Blahos (WMA President)
09h00-09h45 Public Health, and its Role in Improving Health in
Inner Cities:
Perspective from Edinburgh and Glasgow
Dr Harry Burns
Director of Public Health, Greater Glasgow Health Board

Dr Helen Zeally
Director of Public Health, Lothian Health Board

09h45-10h15 Questions

10h15-10h45 Coffee Break

10h45-11h15 The Role of National Medical Associations in the Development of Health Policy: The Japan Medical Association Experience
Dr Eitaka Tsuboi, President of the Japan Medical Association and President-Elect of the World Medical Association

11h15-11h45 Physician Involvement in the Development of Health Policy: An overview of the Experience in Chile & Latin America
Dr Enrique Accorsi, President of the Chilean Medical Association

11h30-12h30 Panel Discussion with Drs. Tsuboi and Accorsi