AMSE at the World Medical Association General Assembly (WMA), 11 – 14 October 2017, Chicago / USA

11
Oct
2017

AMSE at the World Medical Association General Assembly (WMA), 11 – 14 October 2017, Chicago / USA

The Annual General Assembly of the WMA in 2017 was held from October 11 to 14 in Chicago, USA. The program of the meeting was divided in Committees, Council Meetings, Assembly Ceremonial Session, General Assembly and a Scientific Session. In the General Assembly, documents on “Quality Assurance”, “Medical Education” and others were adopted.

The Scientific Session with the topic: “Assuring Quality in Undergraduate Medical Education” started with key lectures on “Global Medical School Expansion” (John Norcini, FAIMER), “Creation of Accreditation and Quality Systems” (David Gordon, WFME) and “Accreditation of Medical Education Programs” (Humayun Chaudry, IAMRA). In the afternoon, participants from different world regions (Europe, America, Asia/Pacific, Africa) discussed in workshops their specific issues and problems concerning medical education. The following questions were provided:

  • What 2-3 changes would be most important to enhance the quality of basic (undergraduate) medical education in your country/region?
  • What barriers exist to making these changes?
  • What strategies are feasible in your setting to overcome the barriers? The support of what groups would be needed to overcome the barriers?

Peter Dieter was invited as a President of AMSE to chair the workshop of the Europe region.

In a concluding session, the summaries of the four regions were presented and discussed. Major issues were:

  • lack of resources for education,
  • the “low value of education vs research” in Medical Schools,
  • missing faculty development programs,
  • uncontrolled growth of Medical Schools without quality assurance,
  • increasing number of students, limited number of patients, etc.

It was also stated that organisations like the WMA, the National Medical Associations and AMSE should give more support the Medical Schools.

WMA is an international and independent confederation of free professional medical associations, therefore representing physicians worldwide. WMA was formally established in 1947 and has grown in 2016 to 112 national medical associations and more than 10 million physicians.

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. With this unique partnership, WMA aims to facilitate high-caliber, humane care to patients in a healthy environment, enhancing the quality of life for all people in the world.

The purpose of 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 main decision-making body of WMA is the General Assembly, which meets annually and is formed by delegations from the National Member Associations, officers and members of the Council of WMA, and representatives of the Associate Members (Associate Members are individual physicians who wish to join WMA).