Logo:
Name of Organisation:
The World Medical Association (WMA)
Address:
WMA The World Medical Association
13, ch. du Levant
CIB - Bâtiment A
01210 Ferney-Voltaire
France
Telephone:
+33 (0) 4 50 40 75 75
Website:
http://www.wma.net/e/index.htm
Email:
wma@wma.net
Fax:
+33 (0) 4 50 40 59 37
Type:
International
Mission / Vision Statement:
The purpose of the World Medical Association (WMA) is to serve humanity by endeavoring to achieve the highest international standards in Medical Education, Medical Science, Medical Art and Medical Ethics, and Health Care for all people in the world.
The WMA provides a forum for its member associations to communicate freely, to co-operate actively, to achieve consensus on high standards of medical ethics and professional competence, and to promote the professional freedom of physicians worldwide.
This unique partnership facilitates high-calibre, humane care to patients in a healthy environment, enhancing the quality of life for all people in the world.
Main areas of interest:
The WMA as an organization is interested in promoting the highest possible standards of medical ethics, the WMA provides ethical guidance to physicians through its Declarations, Resolutions and Statements. These also help to guide National Medical Associations, governments and international organizations throughout the world. The Declarations, Resolutions and Statements cover a wide range of subjects, including an International Code of Medical Ethics, the rights of patients, research on human subjects, care of the sick and wounded in times of armed conflict, torture of prisoners, the use and abuse of drugs, family planning and pollution.
Key areas of work include:
- Health-related human rights - promoting and defending the basic rights of patients and physicians
- Medical education - helping physicians to continuously improve their knowledge and skills
- Human resources planning for health care services
- Patient safety
- Public health policy and projects such as tobacco control, immunization
- Democracy building for new medical associations, especially in new or developing democracies
- Leadership and career development
- Advocacy for physicians' and patients' rights
- Occupational health and safety
Structure of Organisation:
The WMA is an international organization representing physicians. It was founded on 17 September 1947, when physicians from 27 different countries met at the First General Assembly of the WMA in Paris. The organization was created to ensure the independence of physicians, and to work for the highest possible standards of ethical behaviour and care by physicians, at all times. This was particularly important to physicians after the Second World War, and therefore the WMA has always been an independent confederation of free professional associations. Funding has been by the annual contributions of its members, which has now grown to approximately 80 National Medical Associations.
The main decision-making body of the WMA is the General Assembly, which meets annually. The Assembly comprises delegations from the National Member Associations, the officers and members of the Council of the WMA, and representatives of the Associate Members (Associate Members are individual physicians who wish to join the WMA).
The Assembly elects the WMA Council every two years with representatives drawn from each of the six WMA regions, namely Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Pacific.
The Chairperson of Council, elected by the WMA Council every two years, is the political head of the organization. The Ceremonial Head of the WMA is the President, elected annually by the Assembly. As Chief Executive of the operational units of the WMA, the Secretary-General is in full-time employment at the Secretariat, appointed by the WMA Council.
The WMA Secretariat is situated in Ferney-Voltaire, France, adjacent to the City of Geneva.
Opportunities:
Information for National Medical Associations interested in joining the WMA as Constituent Members can be found at:
http://www.wma.net/e/members/constituent.htm
Information for individual physicians, wishing to become WMA Associate Members can be found at:
http://www.wma.net/e/members/associate_form.htm
Related Organisations & Links:
The WMA is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). The WMA is also a member of the World Health Professions Alliance (www.whpa.org) which combines the strengths of the international professional associations for physicians, nurses and pharmacists to advocate and work for the highest possible standards of health care for all people.
