World Medical Association

Physician Leaders Warn Governments over Autonomy of Medical Profession

Thursday, February 26, 2015
The World Medical Association and the Standing Committee of European Doctors warned governments around the world against trying to dismantle medical professional self-governing bodies. The warning follows the dismissal of the case brought by the Turkish Government to dismiss the governing bodies of the Ankara Chamber of Medicine.

World Medical Association Concern Over Iraqi Camp

Monday, November 10, 2014
The World Medical Association has expressed its extreme concern to the Iraqi Prime Minister about “worrying health conditions” in Camp Liberty, the former United States military installation in Baghdad, now being used to house the members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran who previously resided in Camp Ashraf. ‘According to testimonies and reports from human rights organisations the basic rights of the 2700 residents—such as access to physicians and medicine, the confidentiality of physician-patient relationship or the right of patients to have interpreter and accompanying nurses when needed—are frequently violated.'

Doctors and Other Health Workers Must Be Protected in Times of Armed Conflict and Violence

Friday, September 6, 2013
The AMA Federal Council has adopted the World Medical Association’s WMA Regulations in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence as formal AMA policy. The Regulations outline the duties of doctors working in armed conflict and other situations of violence and address the obligations of Governments, armed forces, and others in positions of power to allow health care personnel to fulfil their ethical duties to care for the sick and wounded, and to provide protection for health care personnel and facilities such as hospitals.

ICRC and World Medical Association to Work Together for Safer Health Care Delivery

Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Geneva (WMA / ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Medical Association (WMA) signed a memorandum of understanding in Geneva today, in which the two organizations agree to join forces in a worldwide effort to combat violence against patients and health-care workers.

Documents Emphasize Data Collection on Violence against Health

Monday, November 5, 2012
The World Medical Association revised its Regulations in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence, endorsing collection of data and including a code of conduct for physicians in conflicts. In May 2012 at the World Health Assembly, member states of the World Health Organization passed a resolution requiring the WHO to lead international data collection of attacks on health workers, facilities, transports, and patients.

Finally, a Major Step Forward in Protecting Health Workers and Facilities

Thursday, January 26, 2012
Despite firm standards rooted in the Geneva Conventions to protect health facilities, health workers, and the patients served during armed conflict, and to enable health professionals to act consistently with their ethical obligations, assaults on and interference with health functions are all too common in war. Aside from the human toll they take, these attacks often compromise the ability to deliver care to populations in great need, impede efforts to reconstruct health systems after war, and lead to the flight of health workers whose presence in a time of great social stress is essential.