SecGen Report-Oct2017

THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
Secretary General’s Report
to the
WMA General Assembly, Chicago 2017
(April – September 2017)
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Table of contents
Chapter I Ethics, Advocacy & Representations
1. ETHICS
1.1 Declaration of Taipei
2. HUMAN RIGHTS
2.1 Right to health
2.2 Protecting patients and doctors
2.3 Prevention of torture and ill-treatment
2.4 Pain treatment
2.5 Health through peace
3. PUBLIC HEALTH
3.1 Non-communicable diseases
3.2 Communicable diseases
3.3 Health and populations exposed to discrimination
3.4 Social determinants of health
3.5 Counterfeit medical products
3.6 Food security and nutrition
3.7 Health and the environment
4. HEALTH SYSTEMS
4.1 Comparing healthcare systems using PROMS & PREMS
4.2 Patient safety
4.3 One Health
4.4 Antimicrobial resistance
4.5 Health workforce
4.6 Violence in the health sector
4.7 Caring Physicians of the World Initiative Leadership Course
5. HEALTH POLICY & EDUCATION
5.1 Medical and health policy development and education
5.2 Support for national constituent members
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Chapter II Partnership & Collaboration
1. World Health Organization (WHO)
2. UNESCO Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
3. Other UN agencies
4. World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
5. WMA Cooperating Centers
6. Other partnerships or collaborations
Chapter III Communication & Outreach
1. WMA newsletter
2. WMA social media (Twitter and Facebook)
3. The World Medical Journal
4. WMA African Initiative
Chapter IV Operational Excellence
1. Advocacy
2. Paperless meetings
3. Governance
Chapter V Acknowledgement
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CHAPTER I ETHICS, ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATIONS
1. Ethics
1.1 Declaration of Taipei
The Declaration of Taipei on Ethical Considerations Regarding Health Databases and
Biobanks provides guidance for the protection of persons who allow their health data
and/or specimens to be used for future research or other uses. In some aspects, this is a
logical continuation of the safeguards provided by the Declaration of Helsinki; extending
them into virtual environments and scenarios such as administrative or commercial uses.
An important focus of the Declaration of Taipei is maintaining the protection provided by
informed consent. Since information about potential future uses of data or specimens is
naturally incomplete, the Declaration offers a multi-step mechanism to replace part of
informed consent. This is achieved through a predetermined governance structure and an
assessment by an ethics committee.
The WMA was invited to host a session on the new Declaration at the 12th
UNESCO
Chairs in Bioethics conference in Limassol, Cyprus in March 2017.
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, Dr Dainius Puras, as well as health related matters addressed by the UN Human
Rights Council. During the reporting period, the WMA Secretariat made contact with Dr
Puras regarding his latest report on mental health and human rights (see item 4.3.3).
2.2 Protecting patients and doctors
2.2.1 Actions of support
Country Case
TURKEY
May 2017
Sources:
TMA,
Human Rights
Foundation of Turkey
In May, the WMA sent a letter to the Gaziantep regional
high court, further to the adoption by the Council in April
of a Resolution in support of Dr Serdar
Künil. Dr Künil, former president of the Şırnak Medical
Chamber, was imprisoned for over 6 months on
charges that he provided medical treatment to alleged
members of Kurdish armed groups. Since then Dr Küni
has been released on bail. The final court decision is still to
be made. He faces 4 years imprisonment.
PHILIPPINES Our attention has been drawn by Physicians for Human
Rights to cases of health professionals in several Filipino
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July 2017
Source:
Physicians for Human
Rights (PHR)
hospitals being coerced into assisting in the cover-up of
extrajudicial killings. PHR suggested a joint letter
denouncing such practices as violating medical ethics and
human rights and calling for urgent investigations.
The WMA Secretariat contacted the Philippine Medical
Association asking about their plans for stopping such
practices and informing them about PHR’s proposed joint
letter. We did not receive a response. It was therefore
agreed with PHR that they would send the letter on their
own, but mentioning that the WMA is investigating the
case as well.
VENEZUELA
July 2017
In July, the WMA issued a press release urging the
Venezuelan Government to take immediate action to
resolve the country’s serious health crisis, which it says
has led to increased morbidity, mortality and malnutrition
among infants.
TUNISIA
August 2017
Sources:
Support Committee to
Tunisian doctors Dr
Sassi & Dr Halleb
Information &
Documentation Centre
on Torture (CIDT-
Tunisia)
We were alerted by two different sources to the case of
two Tunisian doctors currently being prosecuted for
alleged complicity in torture in 1991, whereas these very
two doctors – according to our sources – were precisely the
ones who were reporting and documenting acts of torture
at that time.
We contacted the Tunisian Medical Association to alert
them to the case and enquire about their intentions to
support these two doctors.
AUSTRALIA
August 2017
Source:
Amnesty International
Amnesty International contacted the Secretariat regarding
the worrying conditions in off-shore detention, by
Australia, of refugees on Manus Island, Papua New
Guinea.
We contacted the Australian Medical Association, which
provided us with detailed information on their continuous
advocacy work to ensure the delivery of appropriate health
care to asylum seekers and refugees.
ETHIOPIA
September 2017
Source:
Freefikru Petition
Swedish Medical
Association
Amnesty International
The Secretariat received a call to sign a petition in support
of the Ethiopian-born Swedish cardiologist, Dr Fikru
Maru, who has been in detention for 4 years in Ethiopia. In
May 2017 he was cleared of all prior charges, but instead
of releasing him, new charges were brought against him
and 37 other prisoners for being involved in a prison fire
and revolt (Dr Fikru was in hospital with a life threatening
condition when the fire occurred). The Secretariat
contacted the Swedish Medical Association, which
confirmed the case and was positive about the WMA
taking action.
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Dr Ketan Desai signed the petition on behalf of the WMA.
The information was shared on Facebook and Twitter.
2.2.2 Protection of health professionals in areas of armed conflict and other situations of
violence
ICRC “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 HCiD
initiative, which has been prolonged by the ICRC for a second phase.
In early November 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the
WMA and the ICRC was formally signed by Yves Daccord, Director-General of
the ICRC, and Dr Otmar Kloiber, WMA Secretary General. This MoU develops
and consolidates the long-standing cooperation between the WMA and the ICRC
and fosters understanding on topics of common interest, including on the
protection of health professionals and patients in situations of violence, on the role
of physicians in addressing sexual violence, as well as torture and ill-treatment in
detention, and more generally in addressing Social Determinants of Health in the
context of insecurity.
The ICRC and the WMA repeated the successful experience of last year and
organised a joint side-event at the World Health Assembly in May. The
Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Canada, the World Health Organization
(WHO), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) joined the initiative. The event on
22nd
May entitled: “Attacks on healthcare: Where do we stand one year after
the adoption of the UNSC1
Resolution 2286?” aimed to look at concrete
measures to address increasing attacks on healthcare, including with the support
of the Resolution.
The side-event was co-chaired by Alain Berset, Vice-President of the Swiss
Federal Council, and the Honourable Jane Philpott, Canadian Minister of Health,
and 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, Director-General of the ICRC, Dr
Joanne Liu, President of MSF as well as Dr Ardis Hoven, Chair of the WMA.
During the 70th
World Health Assembly in May, the WMA made a public
Statement on the WHO response during severe large-scale emergencies.
Other related events:
On 11-12 May 2017 Clarisse Delorme participated in an expert meeting on
Health Care in Danger: a Central and Eastern European Perspective in
Olomouc, Czech Republic, co-organized by Palacký University, the Czech Red
Cross and the ICRC, where she had the opportunity to report on the WMA’s
activities within the framework of the HCiD Initiative.
1
United Nation Security Council
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On 17-18 May, Otmar Kloiber and Clarisse Delorme attended the HCiD Annual
Meeting at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, bringing together representatives of
the HCiD Movement and the Community of Concern. Clarisse Delorme presented
the WMA pledge submitted to the 32nd
International Conference of the Red Cross
Movement on the safety of health care personnel in situations of violence.
In July, The WMA Secretariat lent its support to the Médecins du Monde (MDM)
Campaign “Targets of the World” denouncing violence against healthcare in
emergency contexts. The Secretariat also shared the information with the WMA
membership, inviting members to support the initiative by signing the online
petition.
2.3 Prevention of torture and ill-treatment
The WMA Secretariat follows relevant international activities in this area, in particular
those of the Human Rights Council.
2.3.1 Cooperation with the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
(IRCT)
2.3.2 The Secretariat exchanged information with the IRCT during the reporting period,
in particular regarding the WMA proposed Statement on forced anal examinations
to substantiate same-sex sexual activity. In preparation for a mission in Uganda,
the IRCT enquired about this particular issue of concern in the country.
2.3.3 Role of physicians in preventing torture and ill-treatment
Last May, the WMA Secretariat was contacted by the Health Care in Detention
Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to discuss an
opportunity to update the online course for physicians working in prisons. The
discussion is ongoing, including with the Norwegian Medical Association which
played a key role in developing and hosting the original courses.
2.3.4 Psychiatric treatment – Mental Health
2.3.5 Last June, the WMA Secretariat prepared written comments on the recent report
on mental health from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Health, Dr
Dainius Purras (Report A/HRC/35/21). These comments were prepared with the key
contribution of Dr Miguel Jorge (Brazilian Medical Association), psychiatrist and
Chair of the WMA Socio-Medical Affairs Committee, with the aim of providing
the physicians’ perspective in the global discussion on the challenges and
opportunities related to the promotion of mental health as a global priority and a
fundamental human right. The written comments were then shared with the World
Psychiatric Association. Dr Puras replied by welcoming our report and proposed a
meeting in late September to discuss the matter further. The WMA Secretariat
was represented at this meeting by Dr O. Kloiber and C. Delorme.
2.4 Pain treatment
The WMA continues to be active in the field of palliative care in cooperation with the
WHO and civil society organisations working in this area. Within the context of the
current global discussion and the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the
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world drug problem, the WMA made a public statement at the session of the WHO
Executive Board (January 2017) on the public health dimension of the issue, underlining
the need for a committed public health approach encompassing the availability and access
to medicines for effective treatment and related healthcare services.
2.5 Health through peace
On 7 July 2017, country representatives meeting at a United Nations conference in New
York adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first multilateral
legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years.
In September, the WMA Secretariat met with a representative of the International
Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPN) to explore possible ways of
collaboration in the global health imperative to eliminate nuclear weapons in line with the
WMA Statement on Nuclear Weapons by using the momentum of the Treaty adoption.
On the occasion of the opening for signature of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons in New York on the 20 September, the IPPN together with the WMA, the
International Council of Nurses and the World Federation of Public Health Associations,
adopted a joint Statement urging Member States to sign the Treaty and to ratify it as soon
as possible thereafter so that it can enter into force.
3. Public Health
3.1 Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)
3.1.1 General
Member States and the WHO have made progress in fulfilling their commitments
according to the 2011 UN Political Declaration on Prevention and Control of
NCDs. In the last two years, Member States have adopted a Global Monitoring
Framework with a set of global NCD targets, a Global NCD Action Plan 2013-
2020, and a formalized UN Interagency Task Force on NCDs, which will
coordinate a UN system-wide response to NCDs.
In response to the first UN Political Declaration on Prevention and Control of
Noncommunicable Diseases from 2011, the WHO also established the Global
Monitoring Framework as a Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM) on the
Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. The scope and purpose
of the coordination mechanism is to facilitate and enhance the coordination of
activities, multi-stakeholder engagement and action across sectors at the local,
national, regional and global levels. The WMA is an official member of this
coordination mechanism, which was launched in March 2015, and has attended
several WHO GCM/NCD meetings. Dr Bente Mikkelsen, head of the GCM
secretariat, will present their work and achievements at the WMA General
Assembly in Chicago. The purpose of this presentation is also to discuss possible
cooperation with the WMA and how physicians can support activities against
NCDs.
In preparation for the third UN High-level Meeting on NCDs during the 2018 UN
General Assembly in New York, WHO is organizing the Global Conference on
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how to enhance policy coherence between different spheres of policy making
that have a bearing on attaining SDG target 3.4 (NCDs) by 2030 in
Montevideo, Uruguay, from 18-20 October 2017. Member countries drafted an
outcome document in advance of the conference and WMA commented on this
document as part of an open consultation process. The WMA welcomed the new
strategy focus on health care system strengthening and the importance of a well-
trained, well-resourced and well supported health workforce.
3.1.2 Tobacco
The WMA is involved in the implementation process of the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is 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. The WMA attends every Conference of the Parties meeting. The next
Conference of the Parties to the FCTC meeting will take place from 1-6 October
2018 in Geneva.
3.1.3 Alcohol
The Secretariat maintains regular contact with the WHO staff in charge of this
topic, as well as with the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA). During the 70th
session of the World Health Assembly last May, the WMA took part in a Civil
Society consultation meeting organised by GAPA and the NCD Alliance, in order
to discuss strategies to put alcohol back on the agenda of the WHO governing
bodies. The WMA was also invited by GAPA to an informal meeting on the same
topic with interested Member States.
In June, Clarisse Delorme represented the WMA at the WHO Forum on Alcohol,
Drugs and Addictive Behaviours, which took place at WHO headquarters in
Geneva. A statement was made, recommending the development of all-inclusive
policies addressing the root causes of alcohol patterns as well as strengthening
health systems to improve countries’ capacity to develop policy and lead actions
that target alcohol problems.
3.1.4 Physical Activity
The WHO is in the process of developing a draft global action plan to promote
physical activity. The WMA was invited to be member of the strategic advisory
network to support and guide the WHO Secretariat in the development of this
Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, and attended the first technical advisory
meeting in June 2017. Recognising the importance of physical activity to
wellbeing and the attainment of the sustainable development goals, the action plan
offers the global community a unique opportunity to elevate the profile and set a
new ambitious agenda for united action in creating physical activity opportunities
for all. The WHO Secretariat hosted an open web-based consultation on a first
draft of the report from August to mid-September.
3.2 Communicable diseases
3.2.1 Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Project
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The New Jersey Medical School Global TB Institute, together with the University
Research Company in the USA and the WMA, has finalised the update of the TB
refresher course for physicians in pdf format and online. A revision of the course
was necessary given changes to the WHO Guidelines and the upcoming release of
the 3rd
edition of the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care. The next step
will be to update the MDR-TB course.
In 2010, the WMA participated in the development of the WHO guidance
document entitled ‘Guidance on Ethics of Tuberculosis Prevention, Care and
Control’. Building on this document, the WHO is now in the processes of revising
the existing document with the aim of speaking more directly to the challenges
faced by healthcare workers (HCW) and decision-makers across the globe in
helping fulfil the third principle of the End TB Strategy, namely the protection of
human rights, ethics and equity. A first workgroup meeting has taken place with
the WMA delivering a presentation on health workers’ rights and obligations.
3.3 Health and populations exposed to discrimination
3.3.1 Women and health
The WMA continues to follow global activities on women and health and aims to
monitor the implementation phase of the “Global plan of action on strengthening
the role of the health system in addressing interpersonal violence, in particular
against women and girls, and against children”, which was adopted by the World
Health Assembly in May 2016.
In August, in conformity with WMA’s related policy, the WMA Executive
Committee decided to support the United to End FGM knowledge platform. This
Platform is a new, free, online training tool to train professionals dealing with
those affected by female genital mutilation. It is currently available in nine
European languages, with two modules specifically for health professionals. The
Secretariat spread the information through social media.
3.3.2 Ageing
The WMA participated in the WHO consultation on the Global Strategy and
Action Plan on Ageing and Health, which was adopted by Members States at the
last World Health Assembly in May 2016, and is monitoring the implementation
phase of the Global Strategy.
For more activities in the area of ageing, please see Chapter III, section 4.
3.3.3 Zero HIV-related stigma & discrimination in health care settings
In March 2017, the Secretariat shared with WMA members the UNAIDS
reference document on eliminating discrimination in health care. This report aims
to serve as a reference for policy-makers and other key stakeholders engaged in
shaping policies and programmes to regulate healthcare and eliminate
discrimination and other structural barriers to achieving healthy lives for all. The
WMA has been involved in this initiative since it started in November 2015.
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3.3.4 Refugees, migrants & access to health
In response to the WHO initiative on migrants’ health, the WMA made a public
statement on behalf of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) at the 70th
World Health Assembly (May 2017) welcoming WHO’s efforts in promoting
migrant health and highlighting that late or denied treatment is discriminatory and
contravenes a fundamental human right.
Clarisse Delorme was invited to present the WMA’s views on migrants’ health at
the Youth Pre-World Health Assembly Workshop organised by the International
Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) on 19 May in Geneva.
In July, the WMA Secretariat, represented by Dr O. Kloiber, C. Delorme and M.
Mihaila, met with representatives of the Migration Health Division of the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to explore potential cooperation
and exchange of information.
Further to this meeting, the WMA has been invited to join a working group led by
the IOM and WHO to ensure that the health aspects of refugees and migrants are
adequately addressed in the “Global Compact for Migration” (GCM), the global
UN process currently taking place, which will culminate in a final outcome
agreement from the UN General Assembly further to intergovernmental
negotiations in early 2018. For now, health is still marginally or barely mentioned
in the preliminary discussions. In September, the WMA sent its written
contribution and participated in the first working group meeting on the 5
September.
3.4 Social determinants of health (SDH) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
The WMA is actively engaged with the WHO Department of Health Workforce and
participates in a Steering Committee to develop an eBook on the Social Determinants of
Health Approach to health workforce education and training. The project is part of the
WHO’s work to implement the guidelines on “Transforming and scaling up health
professionals’ education and training”, launched in Recife in 2013. The project also
supports World Health Assembly Resolution WHA66.23 “Transforming health
workforce education in support of universal health coverage”. The collaboration involves
participation in meetings organized by WHO and providing technical assistance and
guidance for the eBook.
The WMA presented the health professional perspective at the WHA 2017 side event on
“What is the role of the Private Sector in helping to achieve Universal Health
Coverage (UHC)?” The policies that governments must implement in pursuit of UHC
will impact all stakeholders involved in improving health. Realising the UHC goal will
require a thoughtful transition that meets the shared goals of governments, healthcare
workers, patients, citizens and industry to expand access to treatment, prevention,
services, medicines and vaccines. There is broad agreement that the private sector must
be involved. The private sector is an important voice in national policy debates on how
healthcare is organised and paid for. Diverse private sector companies deliver much of
the healthcare in low and middle-income countries, from pharmacies to private
practitioners and hospitals. However, the commercialisation of health care needs to be
seen critically and the delivery of the highest possible care should be a cornerstone.
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3.5 Counterfeit medical products
Counterfeit medicines are manufactured below established standards of safety, quality
and efficacy. They are deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity
and/or source. Counterfeiting can apply to both brand name and generic products, and
counterfeit medicines may include products with the correct ingredients but fake
packaging, products with the wrong ingredients, products without active ingredients, or
products with insufficient active ingredients. Counterfeit medical products threaten
patient safety, endanger public health, e.g. by increasing the risk of antimicrobial
resistance, and undermine patients’ trust in health professionals and health systems. The
involvement of health professionals is crucial to combating counterfeit medical products.
The WMA and the members of the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) have
stepped up their activities on counterfeit medical issues and developed an anti-
counterfeit campaign with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly. The basis
of the campaign is the ‘Be Aware’ toolkit for health professionals and patients, which is
intended to increase awareness of this topic and provide practical advice for actions to
take in case of a suspected counterfeit medical product.
As part of the anti-counterfeit campaign, WHPA has developed three videos to explain
the issue of counterfeit medicines and what can be done about them. Each video targets a
specific group: policy-makers, healthcare professionals and patients.
The WMA has joined the Fight the Fakes campaign that aims to raise awareness about
the dangers of fake medicines. Coordination among all actors involved in the
manufacturing and distribution of medicines is vital to tackle this public health threat.
The website also serves as a resource for organisations and individuals who are looking
to support this effort by outlining opportunities for action and sharing what others are
doing to fight fake medicines.
3.6 Food security and nutrition
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) have received a mandate to develop a Declaration on
Nutrition and an accompanying Framework for Action (FFA) to guide its
implementation. They will organise several preparatory meetings and conferences during
the development process. The WMA is observing this process. One main criticism is the
short timeline and the low involvement of civil society in the process. NGOs also
complain that problems concerning the use of antibiotics in foodstuffs are not well
addressed in the current discussion.
The focus so far is on: Social protection to protect and promote nutrition, nutrition-
enhancing agriculture and food systems and the contribution of the private sector and civil
society to improve nutrition.
3.7 Health and the environment
3.7.1 Climate change
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The WMA continues to be involved in the UN climate change negotiations,
particularly the implementation of the Paris agreement adopted at COP21 in
December 2015. For this purpose, a WMA delegation will follow the two weeks
of negotiations during the upcoming COP 23, scheduled for 6-17 November 2017
in Bonn, Germany. The Secretariat is liaising with WHO and the Global Climate
and Health Alliance to ensure coordinated actions during these negotiations.
3.7.2 Chemicals
In December 2009, the WMA joined the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management (SAICM) of the Chemicals Branch of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), which aims to develop a strategy for
strengthening the engagement of the health sector in the implementation of
the Strategic Approach.
In May 2016, the 69th
World Health Assembly adopted Resolution 69.4 on the
Role of the Health Sector in the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond, which requires the
WHO Secretariat to present to the 70th
World Health Assembly (May 2017) a
roadmap outlining concrete actions to enhance health sector engagement towards
contributing to relevant targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Resolution requests that the roadmap be developed in consultation with
Member States, bodies of the United Nations system, and other relevant
stakeholders, including NGOs. The WMA was invited to participate in an
electronic consultation on the draft roadmap and sent its contribution in
September 2016.
The WMA made a public statement at the 140th
session of the WHO Executive
Board in January welcoming the draft roadmap prepared by the WHO Secretariat,
while also insisting on the need to focus on hazard reduction and to aim at
continuously improving the safety of chemicals and not only managing hazardous
chemicals safely. The role of health professionals was highlighted.
The WMA attended an informal meeting initiated by WHO on the occasion of the
70th
World Health Assembly in May to discuss the implementation of WHO’s
roadmap on chemicals as well as possible collaborative work on air pollution with
various stakeholders.
3.7.3 WMA Green Page
The WMA is partnered 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. It provides everything
needed to assist practice or clinic managers in establishing their own
environmental sustainability programme: office policies, PowerPoints, a step-by-
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step guide for your Green Teams, and even free advice by telephone. The My
Green Doctor website is now available in the “What we do – Education” section of
the WMA website.
4. Health Systems
4.1 Comparing healthcare systems using Patient Reported Outcomes (PROMS) and
Patient Reported Experiences (PREMS)
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) presented its
plans to use Patient Reported Outcomes (PROMS) and Patient Reported Experiences
(PREMS) to measure and compare the healthcare systems of member countries at its
Health Forum in Paris on 16 January 2017. The new strategy was endorsed by the
ministerial conference the following day.
In contrast to previous methods of data collection and comparison, the organisation hopes
the new measurement approach will lead to more patient and outcome relevant
information.
The WMA had the opportunity to participate in the health forum. In a subsequent
exchange of letters, the WMA Secretary General welcomed the attempt to achieve more
meaningful statistics. He also pointed to the perception characteristics of this
methodology and its limitations in non-local comparisons. Among other points, the
Secretary General stressed the fact that physicians already have a tremendous workload
of data collection tasks, which rarely have any effect on patient treatment or work
efficiency. The WMA will monitor and accompany the implementation of the new
strategy.
At the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) Leadership Forum in May 2017 the
comparison of health care systems was discussed. Ms Francesca Colombo from the
OECD was the keynote speaker at this session. Please see chapter III paragraph 4, page
29 of this report.
4.2 Patient safety
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.
The aims of this initiative are to:
 Establish the global baseline of medication errors and create a global monitoring
system to facilitate the tracking of medication errors.
 Develop a multi-modal strategy to engage governments, organizations and front-
line healthcare providers to improve medication safety by decreasing the
incidence of medication errors by means of improving prescribing, transcription,
preparation, dispensing and administration practices.
 Develop guidelines, tools, materials, and technologies to promote and support
medication safety and reduce the incidence of medication errors.
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 Engage key stakeholders, partners and industry to actively pursue efforts to
improve medication safety.
The 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. 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.
4.3 One Health
In May 2015, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Medical
Association (WMA) in collaboration with the Spanish medical (SMA) and veterinary
(SVA) associations organized the Global Conference on ‘One Health’ Concept with the
theme: “Drivers towards One Health – Strengthening collaboration between Physicians
and Veterinarians”. The Global Conference brought together 330 delegates from 40
countries around the world. Veterinarians, physicians, students, public health officials
and NGO representatives listened to presentations by high-level speakers and had the
opportunity to learn, discuss and address critical aspects of the One Health concept. The
main objectives of the conference were to strengthen links and communications between
the professions and to achieve closer collaboration between physicians, veterinarians and
all relevant stakeholders to improve different aspects of the health and welfare of
humans, animals and the environment.
The second conference was hosted by the Japan Medical Association and the Japan
Veterinary Association together with the World Veterinary and the World Medical
Association in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on 10-11 November 2016.
The conference was attended by more than 600 participants from 44 countries around the
world with approximately 30 lectures covering different One Health issues. A summary
of the conference is available on the WMA website.
4.4 Antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a growing concern and an important challenge to
public health. It has various aspects and different actors contribute to the problem.
In May 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted 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. The WMA has discussed how the WHO and WMA can collaborate on
this topic in several meetings. The WMA is currently in discussions with the WHO
regarding becoming an expert member of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group to
the secretariat.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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The WMA attended a WHO consultation to establish if a global development and
stewardship framework to support the development, control, distribution and appropriate
use of new and existing antimicrobial medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other
interventions should be set up.
Likewise, the WMA participated in a WHO expert consultation meeting on health
workforce education and AMR in April 2017. 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. 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 to begin in October 2017.
The World Medical Association and World Health Organization are planning to develop
a multi-country health professional awareness survey on antibiotic resistance. The aim
would be to gain further insight into the levels of awareness of antibiotic resistance
among health professionals and their perspectives on the prescription of antibiotics within
their profession. A pilot questionnaire was conducted in preparation for the survey.
The second topic at the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) leadership forum in
May 2017 was antimicrobial resistance. Dr Marcus Sprenger from the WHO was the
keynote speaker at this session. Please see chapter III paragraph 4, page 29 of this report.
4.5 Health workforce
In May 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy on Human
Resources for Health. One new and important statement in the WHO strategy is the
emphasis that investment in HRH has a growth-inducing effect and health care itself is a
large pillar of the economy. The argument that the health sector has a growth inducing
effect on the economy is now being adopted by more and more UN agencies. As a result,
the UN Secretary General appointed a High Level Commission on Health Employment
and Economic Growth, which launched its report ‘Working for Health and Growth –
Investing in the health workforce’ in September 2016. The report gives 10
recommendations on areas such as job creation, gender and women’s rights, education
technology and crisis and humanitarian settings. The Commission’s goal is to stimulate
and guide the creation of at least 40 million new jobs in the health and social sectors, and
to reduce the projected shortfall of 18 million health workers, primarily in low- and
lower-middle-income countries, by 2030.
At the High Level Ministerial Meeting on Health and Economic growth in December
2016, the WMA made an intervention on this High Level Commission on health
Employment and Economic Growth report and spoke at the round table ‘Acceleration
investments in scaling up education and skills’.
During the WHO Executive Board session, the WMA made an intervention on human
resources for health and implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations’ High-
Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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Following the conclusion of its 10-year mandate, the Global Health Workforce Alliance
has transitioned into the Global Health Workforce Network. The Global Health
Workforce Network aims to facilitate evidence generation and exchange, foster
intersectoral and multilateral policy dialogue, including providing a forum for multi-
sector and multi-stakeholder agenda setting, sharing of best practices, and harmonization
and alignment of international support for human resources for health. The overall goal is
to enable the implementation of Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable
Development Goals. The WMA attended the first network meeting at the end of 2016.
In April 2017 the International Labor Organisation (ILO) organised a Tripartite Meeting
on Improving Employment and Working Conditions in Health Services. The purpose
of the meeting was to discuss decent work strategies that effectively address health
workforce shortages as a prerequisite to enable provision of equal access to health care
for all in need, with a view to adopting conclusions on future programme development
and to inform policy-making on the selected topic at the international, regional and
national levels. The WMA attended this conference and worked on follow-up activities
with the ILO secretariat.
4.6 Violence in the health sector
Building on the success of the previous conference in Dublin, preparatory work has
started for the sixth International Conference on violence in the health sector, which will
take place in Toronto, Canada on 24 – 26 October 2018. The WMA is a member of the
organisation and scientific committees in charge of the preparations for the event. Two
meetings of the organisation committee took place during the reporting period.
4.7 Caring Physicians of the World Initiative Leadership Course
The CPW Project began with the Caring Physicians of the World book, published in
English in October 2005 and in Spanish in March 2007. Some hard copies (English and
Spanish) are still available from the WMA Secretariat upon request.
Regional conferences were held in Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and
Africa between 2005 and 2007. The CPW Project was extended to include a leadership
course organised by the INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France in December
2007, in which 32 medical leaders from a wide range of countries participated. The
curriculum included training in decision-making, policy work, negotiating and coalition
building, intercultural relations and media relations. Please visit the WMA website for
more readings and videos which reflect some experiences of previous course alumnus.
The seventh course was held at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, USA from 2 – 6
May 2016. The courses were made possible by educational grants provided by Bayer
HealthCare and Pfizer, Inc. This work, including the preparation and evaluation of the
course, is supported by the WMA Cooperating Center, the Center for Global Health and
Medical Diplomacy at the University of North Florida.
An eighth course at the Mayo Clinic is planned for December 2017. A call for
nominations was sent to the WMA Constituent Members on 8 September 2017.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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5. Health Policy & Education
5.1 Medical and health policy development and education
In recent years, the Center for the Study of International Medical Policies and Practices at
George Mason University, which is one of the WMA’s Cooperating Centers, has studied
the need for educational support in the field of policy creation. Surveys performed in
cooperation with the WMA found a demand for education and exchange. The Center
invited the WMA to participate in the creation of a scientific platform for international
exchange on medical and health policy development. In autumn 2009, the first issue of a
scientific journal, World Medical & Health Policy, was published by Berkeley Electronic
Press as an online journal. It has now been moved to the Wiley Press. The World Medical
& Health Policy Journal can be accessed at:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1948-4682
5.2 Support for national constituent members
See item 2.2.1
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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CHAPTER II PARTNERSHIP & COLLABORATION
During the reporting period, the WMA Secretariat held bilateral meetings with the WHO and staff
of other UN agencies on the following areas: Prevention of alcohol abuse, mental health, violence
against women, the environment, the migration of health professionals and the prevention of torture.
In addition, the Secretariat voiced the WMA’s concerns in various public settings as follows2
:
1. World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO Governance
World Health Assembly, May 2017:
The 70th session of the World Health Assembly took place in May 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The WMA made public statements on a series of issues. For more information (agenda, working
documents and resolutions), see http://apps.who.int/gb/e/e_wha70.html
WHO Public Health Events
WHO Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours, Geneva, Switzerland, 26-28 June
2017
Meeting of the International Partnership for UHC 2030 – working together to strengthen
health systems in December 2016 in Geneva.
First Global Health Workforce Network meeting in December in Geneva. The network, hosted
by the WHO, transitioned from the Global Health Workforce Alliance, whose mandate ended
after 10 years.
High Level Ministerial Meeting on Health and Economic growth in December 2016 to discuss
the draft 5 year action plan and presentation at one of the round tables.
The WMA attended the WHO expert consultation meeting on health workforce education and
antimicrobial resistance control in March 2017.
WHO Global Consultation for Setting Priorities for Global Patient Safety in collaboration with
the Centre for Clinical Risk Management and Patient Safety, Department of Health
The WMA was invited to be member of the strategic advisory network to support and guide the
WHO secretariat in the development of this Global Action Plan on Physical Activity and attended
the first technical advisory meeting in June 2017.
2. UNESCO Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
In recent years, the WMA has supported the “UNESCO Chair in Bioethics World Conference
on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law” organised by the UNESCO Bioethics Chair,
Prof. Dr Amnon Carmi. In October 2015, the conference convened in Naples, Italy. The WMA
participated again by structuring sessions on end-of-life issues and the (at that time) draft of a
new policy on Ethical Guidelines for Health Databases and Biobanks. WMA Past-Presidents,
Dr Yoram Blachar and Dr Jon Snædal, WMA Ethics Advisor Prof. Vivienne Nathanson, WMA
Legal Counsel, Ms Annabel Seebohm and the Secretary General served in preparing these
sessions. Immediate Past President, Dr Xavier Deau, held a keynote speech at the opening of
the conference.
2
More information on the activities mentioned is set out under the relevant section of the report.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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The WMA was again invited to arrange two scientific sessions at the 12th
UNESCO Chair of
Bioethics Conference held in Limassol, Cyprus from 21-23 March 2017. The first discussed the
ongoing revision process of the “Declaration of Geneva, the physicians’ oath”. This session
was moderated by Dr Ramin Parsa-Parsi, Chair of the WMA work group, and Prof. Urban
Wiesing, Director at our cooperating institute, the University of Tübingen. The second session
was moderated by WMA Past President Dr Jon Snædal and Dr Otmar Kloiber, with
contributions by Dr Emmanuell Rial-Sibag from our cooperating Center at the University of
Neuchatel and Ms Annabel Seebohm, Secretary General of the Standing Committee of
European Doctors (CPME).
The WMA is invited to the 13th
World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health
Law, which will take place from 27-29 November 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. Please visit the
conference page for more details.
3. Other UN agencies
AGENCY ACTIVITIES
Human Rights Council of the United
Nations, in particular:
UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the right of
everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental
health (Dr D. Puras)
Monitoring the SRs’ activities
Ongoing exchange of information
Meeting with the SR in September 2017
further to WMA written contribution to SR’s
report on mental health
Special Rapporteur on torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment (Dr Nils Melzer)
Monitoring the SR’s activities
Contact to be made with new SR
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (Ms Catalina Devandas
Aguilar)
Monitoring the SR’s activities
Contact made late 2016
High Commissioner for Human Rights (Mr
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein)
The WMA is part of the consultation process
within the framework of the UN Resolution
on mental health and human rights adopted in
September 2016
UNAIDS Campaign on Zero HIV-related stigma &
discrimination in health care settings day
See item 3.3.3
World Council of Churches Consultative Meeting on an Ecumenical
Health Strategy in May 2017
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Tripartite Meeting on Improving Employment
and Working Conditions in Health Services in
April 2017
United Nations
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
at its 58th
Session, Vienna, March 2015
The WMA joined a coalition led by former
WHO Department Head, Dr Willem Scholten,
to lobby against the scheduling of Ketamine
as a narcotic drug. The scheduling of
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
21
Ketamine would have put the drug under
international control, which according to the
WHO and many humanitarian organisations
would have made it practically unavailable
for surgery in resource poor countries and
especially rural areas, as well as for veterinary
medicine worldwide. The WMA lobbied the
Commission members and joined the World
Veterinary Association in issuing
synchronized press statements. The Chinese
government, initiator of the move to schedule
Ketamine, finally amended its move to have
the decision postponed, which was welcomed
by nearly every delegation.
OECD Meeting with Mrs Francesca Colombo, Head
of the Health Section, and her team.
Discussion about the new work strategy on
health system reporting and the use of Patient
Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMS).
November 2016 (see also item 6.1 and 10)
International Organisation for Migration
(IOM)
The WMA is part of the IOMWHO working
Group on Migrants’ Health (see point 3.3)
4. World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
The World Health Professions Alliance Leadership Forum took place on 21 May 2017 in
Geneva with the two main topics being (1) the new OECD concept to compare health systems
by patient reported outcome measurements (PROM) and (2) antimicrobial resistance.
Ms Francesca Colombo – Head of the OECD Health Division was the keynote speaker for the
first session on concepts to compare health systems. Measurement of health has evolved
throughout the years, starting from statistics on numbers of deaths, numbers of cases of specific
diseases, disability assessment (DALY, QUALY etc.) to the measurement of wellbeing (QoL,
generic EQSd, SF12, what matters to patients, carers and families). Ms Colombo reported on
the recent OECD project PaRIS – the Patient-Reported Indicators Survey Initiative. This project
evolved due to pressure from governments for more accountability and transparency in
assessment processes in health services. The main priorities of PaRIS are: People-centred
health services, building knowledge and capacity, as well as systematisation of patient-reported
outcome measurements. This was followed by an intense discussion.
The two speakers at the second session were Dr Marc Sprenger, Director of the WHO AMR
Secretariat, and Dr Susi Sanderson, AMR expert from the World Dental Federation.
Antimicrobial resistance is relevant to several of the UN’s sustainable development goals. It is
a huge problem for future generations, and current trends are alarming. It is important to note
that AMR is a cultural phenomenon, not a regional phenomenon. For this reason, proper
education and training of health professionals to decrease prescribing trends is necessary.
However, antibiotics are not only used in the health sector, but also and in much higher
quantities in the agricultural sector. Thus there needs to be a multisector approach to decrease
overall usage and political pressure to develop action plans to reduce antibiotic usage. If not
addressed, AMR will exacerbate poverty and hunger while worsening health outcomes around
the globe.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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The WHPA, along with the WHO and ILO, organised a Webinar on Health Employment and
Economic Growth – from recommendations to action in May 2017. In advance of the item on
‘Human resources for health and implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations’ High-
Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth‘ at the World health
Assembly 2017, the webinar explored these issues and opportunities for taking action to
implement the Commission’s recommendations, with a particular focus on transformative
professional, technical and vocational education and training, skills and life-long learning.
Speakers were from the WHPA, WHO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the
World Federation of Medical Associations (WFME).
World Health Professions Regulation Conference
Save the date: 19-20 May 2018 in Geneva, prior to the World Health Assembly
Health professional regulation faces many challenges in a world characterised by political,
social, economic and technological change. Widespread reform of health professional
regulation reflects policy initiatives by many governments to ensure sustainable, efficient and
effective health service delivery. But what are the implications of these challenges, and how do
we ensure the public’s best interests are met?
Scheduled to run over one-and-a-half days immediately before the World Health Assembly in
May 2018, the 6th
World Health Professions Regulation Conference (WHPRC) will provide
participants with insights, perspectives and discussion on current challenges in health
professional regulation.
There are three main themes that will be addressed during the conference:
1. A call to set the right standards in regulation
Topics will include: setting the right standards, who is regulating the regulators, ethics and
professional autonomy, barriers to implementation, and reimbursement.
2. Safety, quality and compliance: Benefiting patients, communities and populations
Topics will include: best practice guidelines, the role of regulation in sustainable prevention,
facilitation of migration, the cost of maintaining licenses, use of big data and case studies of
outcome-oriented models.
3. Supporting the quality of lifelong learning
Topics will include: continuing professional development (CPD) and a discussion on the need
for global standards, fostering innovation, improving patient treatment, the shift in CPD of
assessment vs independence, and regulation of specialization.
5. WMA Cooperating Centers
The WMA is now proud to enjoy the support of five academic cooperating centres. The WMA
Cooperating Centers bring specific scientific expertise to our projects and/or policy work,
improving our professional profile and outreach.
WMA Cooperating Center Areas of cooperation
Center for the Study of International
Medical Policies and Practices, George-
Mason-University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Policy development, microbial resistance,
public health issues (tobacco), publishing the
World Medical and Health Policy Journal.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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Center for Global Health and Medical
Diplomacy, University of North Florida,
USA
Leadership development, medical diplomacy
Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine,
University of Tübingen, Germany
Revising the Declaration of Geneva, medical
ethics
Institut de droit de la santé, Université de
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
International health law, developing and
promoting the Declaration of Taipei, medical
ethics, deontology, sports medicine
Steve Biko Center for Bioethics, University
of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South
Africa
Revising the Declaration of Helsinki, medical
ethics, bioethics
6. World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA)
The World Medical Association 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 offers
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 the WMA Secretary General (secretariat@wma.net) for more information.
7. Other partnerships or collaborations with Health or Human Rights Organizations
Organisation Activity
Amnesty International Ongoing contacts (exchange of information and support)
during the reporting period on the situations in Australia,
Ethiopia and China (see 2.2.1).
Human Rights Watch Contacts on palliative care (WHO resolution) and other
human rights issues.
Global Alliance on Alcohol
Policy (GAPA) and its
members
Regular exchange of information, in particular in the context
of the 70th
World Health Assembly (May 2017) and the
Global Conference on Alcohol scheduled for October 2017
(see 3.1.3).
International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC)
Partners in the Health Care in Danger project since
September 2011.
Cooperation with the health and legal units.
Permanent cooperation with the Health in Detention
Department.
Memorandum of understanding between the ICRC and the
WMA signed in November 2016.
International Council of
Military Medicine (ICMM)
A Memorandum of Understanding between the ICMM and
the WMA was finalised in late 2016.
Council for International
Organizations of Medical
Sciences (CIOMS)
Development of guidance for the scientific community in
medicine and health care in general. The WMA is a member
and currently represented on the Executive Board.
International Federation of
Health and Human Rights
Organisations (IFHHRO)
Regular exchange of information on human rights and health
matters.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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International Federation of
Medical Students
Associations (IFMSA)
Internship program since 2013 (3 students in 2013 and 2
students in 2014).
Regular collaboration, mostly in relation to WHO statutory
meetings.
Participation of WMA officers and officials in the pre-World
Health Assembly conference of IFMSA in Geneva.
International Federation of
Associations of
Pharmaceutical Physicians
Cooperation on issues of human experimentation and
pharmaceutical development, the role of physicians in that
process. A memorandum of understanding is planned for the
General Assembly in Tokyo.
University of Pennsylvania
International Internship
Program
Internship program on health policy, public health, human
rights, project management (2 students in 2014).
International
Rehabilitation Council for
Torture Victims (IRCT)
Regular exchange of information and joint actions on specific
cases or situations (see item 2.2.1).
Global Climate & Health
Alliance
Regular exchange of information and ad hoc collaboration
within the context of the UN climate change negotiations.
New Jersey Medical School
Global TB Institute
The WMA is working with the New Jersey Medical School
Global TB Institute and the University Research Company
(URC) to update its online TB refresher course for physicians
with the support of the US Agency for International
Development (USAID).
Safeguarding Health in
Conflict Coalition
Observer status in the coalition.
Regular exchange of information.
World Coalition Against
The Death Penalty
Regular exchange of information, in particular regarding
individual cases requiring international support.
World Veterinary
Association
Co-organisation of the Global Conference on One Health,
21-22 May 2015 in Madrid, Spain, in collaboration with the
Spanish medical and veterinary associations. 2nd
Global
Conference on One Health, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka
Prefecture, Japan, 10-11 November 2016.
US Defense Health Board –
Ethics Subcommittee
WMA Past President, Dr Cecil Wilson, represented the
WMA at two sessions of the Defense Health Board – Ethics
Subcommittee in 2014 and 2015 advocating for always
allowing physicians in military service to respect medical
ethics, even in conflict. The report of the Board is available
on our website.
Association for the
Prevention of Torture
Exchange of information on the implementation of the
Convention against Torture with regard to the role of
physicians in preventing torture and ill treatment.
Physicians for Human
Rights
Regular exchange of information and joint actions on specific
cases or situations (see item 2.2.1)
International Physicians for
the Prevention of Nuclear
War (IPPN)
Exchange of information and joint actions in the context of
the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
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CHAPTER III COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH
In July 2017 a new member of staff joined the WMA Secretariat. Ms Magda Mihaila is a journalist
and communications specialist who is now helping our team improve the way we get out messages
to our members and into our social media stream.
1. WMA Newsletter
In April 2012, the WMA Secretariat started 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.
2. WMA social media (Twitter and Facebook)
In 2013, the WMA launched its official Facebook and Twitter accounts (@medwma). The
Secretariat encourages members to spread the word within their associations that they can
follow the WMA’s activities on Twitter and via Facebook.
3. The World Medical Journal
The World Medical Journal (WMJ) is issued every 3 months and includes articles on WMA
activities and feature articles by members and partners. The 60th
anniversary edition was
published as a final printed copy in 2014. It transferred to an electronic format in 2015, which
is available on the WMA website.
4. WMA African Initiative
WMA President 2013-2014, Dr Margaret Mungherera, started an initiative to bring African
medical associations closer to the WMA. The idea was that stronger inclusion of organised
medicine in international cooperation should not only help to get the African voice better heard,
but would also leverage national visibility and standing.
Dr Mungherera brought together medical associations from various parts of Africa in small
regional meetings to discuss issues around their current work, what obstacles they face and
where they have had success. Invitations are open to all African medical associations,
regardless of whether they are already members of the WMA.
Dr Mungherera set up regional consultative meetings with African NMAs in Kenya, South
Africa, Tunisia and Nigeria. This initiative has been supported by the medical associations of
South Africa and Tunisia, WMA President 2014-2015, Dr Xavier Deau, Past Chair of Council,
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, as well as the Chairman of the Past-Presidents and Chairs of Council
Network, Dr Dana Hanson.
Immediate Past-President Dr Mungherera delivered presentations at the 4th
International
Conference on Violence in the Health Sector in Miami from 22-24 October 2014, the African
Health Conference in London from 27-28 February 2015, and at the 6th
World Congress on
Women’s Mental Health in Tokyo from 22-25 March 2015, amongst others.
Sadly, Dr Mungherera passed away on 4 February 2017 after a brave battle with cancer over
recent years. As a psychiatrist by education, a public health activist by nature, and a determined
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
26
advocate for the people of Africa by conviction she was a marvellous physician leader on the
global stage. For many of us she was more than a colleague, she became a friend, teacher and
companion.
Margaret was with us for every meeting she could arrange for. The WMA remains grateful for
her service to our community.
5. Secondments / internships
The BMA has seconded Prof. Vivienne Nathanson since 2015 and for the meetings during the
General Assembly in Chicago. The Icelandic Medical Association, the host of the next General
Assembly in October 2018, seconded Ms Solveig Jóhannsdóttir to the WMA Secretariat at the
General Assembly in Chicago. We have been running an internship programme with the
IFMSA since 2013 (2 Interns in 2017 from Poland and Spain), with the University of
Pennsylvania since 2014 (2 Interns in 2017) and last year we started an internship programme
with the Palack University Olomouc in the Czech Republic (1 intern in 2017) .
A call was sent out among IFMSA members in August for one more intern for the
autumn/winter period.
CHAPTER IV OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
1. Advocacy
In April 2017, the Council decided to discontinue the Advocacy Workgroup and to replace it by
a new Advocacy and Communications Advisory Panel with the mission to provide input and
guidance to:
 Enhance the promotion of WMA policies and positions among the NMAs and to
relevant external organisations, associations, and institutions; and
 Recommend advocacy and communications strategies to increase the visibility and
positive impact of WMA policies and activities.
The Panel is chaired by Dr Ashok Zachariah Philip, Malaysian Medical Association and
composed of the following members: Israel Medical Association (IsMA), South African
Medical Association (SAMA), Spanish Medical Association (CGCoM), American Medical
Association (AMA), Japanese Medical Association (JMA), French Medical Association
(CNOM), Junior Doctors Network (JDN).
2. Paperless meetings
At its 188th
meeting, the WMA Council expressed its desire to reduce its environmental impact
by going paperless. Since the 189th
Council meeting, documents posted on the website before
the meeting have no longer been provided at the venue in print. Council members and officials
are responsible for downloading documents from the members’ area of the WMA website and
bringing them to the meeting via electronic media or on paper, if desired. Documents
developed on site during the meeting are available online via a Wi-Fi connection or in print.
The Secretariat introduced box.com at the 197th
Council meeting as a parallel sharing and
synchronizing tool for official WMA documents. In October 2016, the WMA General
October 2017 SecGen Report/Oct2017
27
Assembly in Taipei decided to introduce entirely paperless meetings with a suitable Wi-Fi
connection.
3. Governance
At the Council meeting in Durban, it was decided that the Secretariat should start a process of
aligning various terms and definitions in WMA policies with the long-term objective of
developing a glossary. The WMA Secretariat has started with a list of terms for which the
definitions are unclear, and will investigate how these terms are used in our existing WMA
policies.
At the Council meeting in Moscow, the Workgroup on Governance Review was set up and
started its work by collecting workgroup members’ observations on SWOT (Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) of/to the WMA. The workgroup held its first in-person
meeting in Buenos Aires and delivered another interim report of its work to the 206th
Council.
The Workgroup is going to submit its final report to the 207th Council in Chicago after
extended discussions with the Constituent Members by phone calls and web conferences.
Following the resignation of the WMA Legal Advisor Adv. Ms Annabel Seebohm at the 203rd
Council Session in Buenos Aires, the Council expressed its gratitude for the services of Ms
Seebohm from 2007 to 2016 and to the German Medical Association who seconded her, and
wished her well with her new position as Secretary General of the Standing Committee of
European Doctors (CPME). Upon the invitation of the WMA Secretary General to the
Constituent Members to consider seconding a legal advisor to the WMA, the French Medical
Association volunteered and seconded Mrs Marie Colgrave-Juge to the function. She was
appointed at the General Assembly in Taipei in October 2016.
CHAPTER V AKNOWLEDGEMENT
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 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.

18.09.2017