Firstov Stepan

Firstov

Stepan

Physician, Politician, Social Activist, Associate Member of the World Medical Association

«The most important condition to implement the human right to health is professionally skilled and responsible for their work physicians. To protect a physician means to protect a patient.»

Stepan Firstov

Home News Stepan Firstov presented Russia at the WMA General Assembly in Chile

Stepan Firstov presented Russia at the WMA General Assembly in Chile

13 May 2019

The 212 WMA General Assembly was held in Santiago, Chile, 25-27 April. The event brought together more than 200 delegates representing almost 40 National Medical Associations. Moreover, associate members of the World Medical Association attended the General Assembly and one of them was Stepan Firstov. He was the only one who represented Russia at the WMA.

Many document packages were discussed and adopted at the international meeting. These documents are of great importance for the development of medicine, in order to obtain access to health care and improve its quality. All these documents were forwarded to the WMA’s General Assembly for adoption in October 2019.

The WMA Council resolution related to several issues. Thus, considerable attention was devoted to the topic of antimicrobial resistance. Members warned the global public health of the antimicrobial resistance growing threat as well as necessary measures to be taken to prevent the world from entering a post antibiotic era.

Another topic related to access to healthcare and healthcare information for all turned to be current for the whole global public health community. Delegates criticized the lack of access to information about possibilities of the modern medicine and healthcare in many countries, which affects morbidity and mortality rates. During the event it was proposed to provide access to relevant, reliable, unbiased, up-to-date and evidence-based healthcare information for all.

Members also discussed current challenges on difficulties of health care services for women and children in many countries. There is still, as we know, discrimination on the basis of sex, and, unfortunately, it is also presented in the health care system.

Problem of abortion was considred. Particularly, nowadays there is widespread tendency of sex selection abortion and female foeticide. Several suggestions were made to overcome such practice.

WMA Members could not ignore another social problem of labour migration from so-called countries of the third world. It is not a secret, that children and teenagers go along this dangerous path unaccompanied, so the issue of medical age assessment of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers is in a great importance of doctors. Delegates talked over ethical issues related to medical age assessment of young asylum seekers and proposed recommendations on already current medical methods.

The agenda of the event also included excessive sugar and salt theme in the modern world. The meeting discussed proposals to reduce the consumption of these dry goods. It was unanimously agreed to submit to the General Assembly in October new developments on this issue.

Many issues, conventional for the Council, remained relevant, thus, the work will be continued in a discussion direction as euthanasia theme. Physicians of the world discussed themes related to violence against healthcare professionals and the patient-physician relationship without fail.

There were adjustments to the leadership panel of the WMA at the 212 Session

Dr. Frank Ulrich Montgomery (Germany) was elected Chair of Council

Mari Michinaga (Japan) was elected as a Vice Chair of Council

Ravindra Sitaram Wankhedkar (India) was elected as a Treasurer

Jung Yul Park (Korea) was elected as a Chair of the Finance and Planning Committee

Andreas Rudkoebing (Denmark) was elected as a Chair of the Medical Ethics Committee

Osahon Enabulele (Nigeria) was elected as a Chair of the Socio Medical Affairs Committee.

Resource: https://www.wma.net/news-post/world-medical-association-council-meeting-15/