Straight from the Heart: International IMA Activities Report 2017

Straight from the Heart: International IMA Activities Report 2017

Dr KK Aggarwal

National President IMA

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) actively participates in World Medical Association (WMA), Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO), Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) and World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) meetings. Internationally, WMA deals with all policies related to health, education and regulations related to all the countries in a broad base. Policies with regard to the above issues in Asia and Oceania regions are broadly dealt by CMAAO and that in Commonwealth countries are dealt with by CMA.

Of late many have criticized why IMA should participate in such meetings.

Here is a brief note:

·         International interactions play a major role in deciding most National or International policies.

·         World Medical Association (WMA) with the help of 112 National Medical Associations periodically develops concurrence statements, concurrence declarations and resolutions on subjects of common interest. Such Statements, Declarations and Resolutions are revised based on the current-day requirements. There are two types of Revisions: Minor revision (which can be made any time) and major revision (which can be made after 10 years of a Declaration / Statement).

·         All member countries / NMAs can raise their national issues even including work conditions of their Resident Doctors like their duty hours etc. through the International bodies. When these International bodies raise an issue even if it relates to individual countries or segments, all member countries follow up such matters with the relevant related authorities in those country(ies) / Segment(s), creating a huge impact on the early resolution of the issue.

·         IMA led two major revisions polices on behalf of WMA, both of which were passed in the last WMA General Assembly held in October 2017 at Chicago. 

o    WMA STATEMENT ON HIV/AIDS AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ( Adopted by the 57th WMA General Assembly, Pilanesberg, South Africa, October 2006 and amended by the 68th WMA General Assembly, Chicago, United States, October 2017)

o    WMA RESOLUTION ON TUBERCULOSIS: Adopted by the 57th WMA General Assembly, Pilanesberg, South Africa, October 2006 and revised by the68th WMA General Assembly, Chicago, United States, October 2017

·         IMA is leading the revisions to third WMA policy on assisted reproductive technologies, which is likely to get passed in 2018: WMA is in the process of revising the under mentioned policy in their ensuing meeting

·         The following Declaration of Geneva, now called ‘The Physicians Pledge’ has been amended by WMA. Dr KK Aggarwal and Dr A Marthanda Pillai were members of the Working Group on behalf of IMA. 

“As a member of the medical profession:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;

THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;

I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;

I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;

I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;

I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;

I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;

I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;

I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honor”

Adopted by the 2nd General Assembly of the World Medical Association, Geneva, Switzerland, September 1948
and amended by the 22nd World Medical Assembly, Sydney, Australia, August 1968
and the 35th World Medical Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983
and the 46th WMA General Assembly, Stockholm, Sweden, September 1994
and editorially revised by the 170th WMA Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, May 2005
and the 173rd WMA Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, May 2006
and amended by the 68th WMA General Assembly, Chicago, United States, October 2017

·         IMA also organized / attended  various international conferences as follows:

o    Annual Scientific Meeting of Chinese Medical Association, Nanjing (China), 14-15 January, 2016

o    International Summit on Air Pollution - Health Advisories, New Delhi, March 10, 2017

o    12th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics & Health Law, Cyprus, March 19-24, 2017

o    206th World Medical Association (WMA) Council Meeting, Zambia, April 15-22, 2017

o    International Congress of Indian College of Interventional Cardiology, Dubai, May 4-7, 2017

o    10th Geneva Conference on Person Centered Medicine, Geneva, May 7-10, 2017

o    Annual Meeting of Swedish Medical Association, Sweden, May 29-31, 2017

o    Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, Chicago, June 10-14, 2017

o    BMA Annual Representative Meeting, Bournemouth, June 25- 29, 2017

o    32nd CMAAO General Assembly, Tokyo, September 13–15, 2017

o    WMA General Assembly, Chicago, October 11-14, 2017

o    European End of Life Issues, Vatican, November 2017

·         IMA now has direct one-to-one association and communication with other Medical Associations of the world. IMA has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for Developing Strategic Cooperation Partnership with the Chinese Medical Association

·          International collaborations

o    BMA Chair always attends the NATCON of IMA

o    Presidents of all National Medical Associations are invited in NATCON.

o    IMA is affiliated to BMA

o    Nepal Medical Association is affiliated to IMA.

o    IMA donated drugs worth Rs. 45 Lakh to Nepal Medical Association during the flood disaster in 2015.

o    Dr A Marthanda Pillai, Past National President and Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, IMA addressed a press conference in Nepal during their visit to Nepal during flood disaster in 2015.

o    Dr Ketan Desai, Past National President, IMA served the highest post of WMA as its President during the year 2016-17.

o    Dr V C Pillai, Past National President, IMA served as President, CMAAO during the year 1992-93.

o    Dr Vinay Aggarwal, Past National President, IMA served as President, CMAAO during the year 2013.

o    Dr KK Aggarwal, Hony Secretary General, IMA served as Vice President, CMAAO during the year 2015-16

o    Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, IMA is serving as 1^st Vice President, CMAAO during the year 2016-17

o    Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, IMA will take over as President Elect, CMAAO for the years 2018-19

o    Dr. S Arulrhaj, Past National President, served as President, CMA

o    Dr K Vijaya Kumar, Past National President served as Vice President CMA

o    Dr Ajay Kumar, Past National President, IMA is serving as Council Member, WMA

o    Many Past National Presidents of IMA: Dr Vinay Aggarwal, Dr Ajay Kumar, Dr A Marthanda Pillai, Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, IMA and Dr RN Tandon, Hony. Secretary General, IMA have served / have been serving on various Committees of WMA/CMAAO

o    An international conference on Person Centered Medicine will be held in November 2018 at New Delhi

o    IMA will be hosting 2019 CMAAO meeting in September 2019

o    WMA raised and supported the “Dilli Chalo” movement of IMA

IMA is an integral part of global medical associations and should continue to lead the world in the field of medicine.