The Russian delegation participated in the two hundredth meting of the WMA Council which was held in Oslo, April 2015.

The WMA is an international organisation representing physician interests. It organizes meetings for its representatives twice a year. The General Assembly (the highest decision-making body) usually takes place in autumn. For the first time in history physicians form all over the world meet together in Moscow in 2015. General Assembly opens its doors for all WMA member delegations as well as for observers and invited guests.

The spring meeting of the WMA Council precedes the meeting of the WMA General Assembly. This year anniversary Council meeting number two hundred is held on 16-18 April in Norway, Oslo. It is already announced about the work of financing and planning committee, medical and social committee and ethics committee of the WMA Council in this period. In addition, a new alcohol policy will be presented in Norway. Gala dinner is a final part of the event. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided into English, French, Spanish and Japanese during the meetings.

Let us remind, that annual meetings are organised by the WMA with the aim of active cooperation and consensus achievement on issues such as medical ethics and professional competence as well as professional growth of physicians all about the world. The WMA mission is to inure to the benefit of humanity, to acheive the highest international standarts of medical care as well as medical education and ethics.

The scope of the WMA interests includes:

— protection of the basic rights of patients and doctors

— medical education (assistance in continuous improvement in the field of medicine and provision of medical services)

— study of the human capacity of health services

— patient safety issues

— health protection (including projects such as tobacco control and vaccination)

— training of managers in the field of health

— health and safety

For reference

The WMA President 2014-2015 is Dr. Xavier Deau, Doctor of general practise, Epinal city (Eastern France), and President of the International and European Delegation of Medical Council in France.

In 2015-2016 Sir Michael Marmot, Professor and Researcher in the field of epidemiology and public health in University College of London, will chair the WMA.

Dr. Joseph M. Heiman, Gynecologist from Massachusetts (USA), was elected as the WMA Chairman of the candidates for members. Dr. Ahmet Murt from Turkey chaired medical assistance committee.

The WMA Membership applications of national medical associations form Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Zambia and Rwanda were accepted in 2015. As a result, total number of the WMA member countries is 111.

By the way

Russia has already won a competition to host the 66th WMA General Assembly in Moscow in October 2012 at the 63th WMA General Assembly in Thailand.