World Medical Journal Official Journal of the World Medical Association, Inc
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ISSN 0049-8122 General Assembly Report World Medical Journal Official Journal of The World Medical Association, Inc. Nr. 1, January 2020 vol. 66 Contents Editorial . 1 Interview with Miguel Roberto Jorge, President of the World Medical Association by WMJ Editor Peteris Apinis . 2 Interview with Dr . Robert Twycross, DM Oxon, FRCP, FRCR, Emeritus Clinical Reader in Palliative Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK by WMJ Editor Peteris Apinis . 3 Interview with Mari Michinaga, Vice-Chairperson of Council of the World Medical Association by WMJ Editor Peteris Apinis . 6 Report on the Health Professional Meeting (H20) 2019 . 8 The FCTC and Tobacco Industry . 11 Hearing Screening in Traffic Police Personnel in Multiple Centers in India . 13 Achieving Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals: The Global Fund’s contribution and my expectation for medical professionals, national medical associations and World Medical Association . 17 Short Overview of Developments in Azerbaijan Healthcare Policy and Legislation During Last Decades . 21 The Welfare and Good Health of Patients is not Possible Without the Doctor: Let’s Work Together . 26 Health Systems in Post Conflict; Case of Somaliland . 27 The Right to Health; What is the Role of the Doctor in Uganda? . 28 Health Sector Reforms in Uganda, not yet Uhuru! . 29 Clean Indoor Air is Key to Asthma Prevention . 30 Interview – Survival: One Health, One Planet, One Future – Routledge, 1st edition, 2019, by Daniele Dionisio PEAH – Policies for Equitable Access to Health . 31 Digital Transformation In Healthcare – South African Context . 34 Youth in the Health and Social Care Sector, challenges and opportunities . 38 Memorandum of Tokyo on Universal Health Coverage and the Medical Profession . iii Editorial World Medical Association Officers, Chairpersons and Officials Dr . Miguel Roberto JORGE Dr . David Barbe Dr . Leonid EIDELMAN Prof . Dr . Frank Ulrich WMA President, WMA President-Elect, WMA Immediate Past-President MONTGOMERY Brazilian Medical Association American Medical Association Israeli Medical Association Chairperson of Council Rua-Sao Carlos do Pinhal 324, AMA Plaza, 330 N. Wabash, Suite 2 Twin Towers, 35 Jabotinsky St., Bundesärztekammer CEP-01333-903 Sao Paulo-SP 39300 P.O. Box 3566 Herbert-Lewin-Platz 1 (Wegelystrasse) Brazil 60611-5885 Chicago, Illinois 52136 Ramat-Gan 10623 Berlin United States Israel Germany Dr . Otmar KLOIBER Dr . Mari MICHINAGA Dr . Ravindra Sitaram Dr . Andreas RUDKJØBING Secretary General WMA Vice-Chairperson of Council WANKHEDKAR WMA Chairperson of the Medical World Medical Association Japan Medical Association WMA Treasurer Ethics Committee 13 chemin du Levant 2-28-16 Honkomagome Indian Medical Association Danish Medical Association 01212 Ferney-Voltaire 113-8621 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Indraprastha Marg Kristianiagade 12 France Japan 110 002 New Delhi 2100 Copenhagen 0 India Denmark Dr . Jung Yul PARK Dr . Osahon ENABULELE Dr . Joseph HEYMAN WMA Chairperson of the Finance WMA Chairperson of the Socio- WMA Chairperson of the Associate and Planning Committee Medical Affairs Committee Members Korean Medical Association Nigerian Medical Association 163 Middle Street Samgu B/D 7F 8F 40 Cheongpa-ro, 8 Benghazi Street, Off Addis Ababa West Newbury, Massachusetts 01985 Yongsan-gu Crescent Wuse Zone 4, FCT, United States 04373 Seoul PO Box 8829 Wuse Korea, Rep. Abuja Editorial Nigeria A low dose of any chemical compound may be virtually harmless, pesticides is similar to that of synthetic female sex hormones, while www wma. .net while its higher dose may cause diseases, but the highest dose may part of them – to modern antibiotics. These pesticides are ruthlessly turn into a deadly poison (there are exceptions – even the smallest sprinkled on the fields of the globe. In the world, the production drop of hydrocyanic acid and some other chemicals used in warfare of chemicals has doubled since 2000, and man depends on it more is deadly). And too large a dose of a chemical compound is a global than ever before. poison for our planet. This idea has already been known since the time of Hippocrates because the Greek word “pharmakon” means It is similar with global warming – a hot day usually means switch- either ‘medicine’ or ‘poison’ depending on the context. The father of ing on air conditioners on this planet. A heatwave means the deaths toxicology, Swiss doctor and alchemist Paracelsus (1493-1541), said, of patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases. Global warming Official Journal of The World Medical Association “The dose makes it clear that a thing is not a poison.” means new infectious diseases, injuries A swallowed tablet is medicine, but exaggerated dosing of medi- caused by catastrophic floods and hurricanes, psychosomatic dis- cines mean poisoning. Discharge in Asian rivers of substances from eases. Global challenges can only be tackled by reducing environ- Editor in Chief chemical plants manufacturing pharmaceutical raw material due to mental poisoning with pesticides, fertilizers and consumer chemi- Dr. Pēteris Apinis, Latvian Medical Association, Skolas iela 3, Riga, Latvia insufficient wastewater treatment means an ocean poisoned with cals, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, cleaning the ocean of [email protected] biologically active substances. However, the raw materials of these plastic and implementing other planet rescue programmes. medicines are manufactured in Asia exactly because of their lower Co-Editor Prof. Dr. med. Elmar Doppelfeld, Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag, Dieselstr. 2, D-50859 Köln, Germany cost and lower environmental standards there. The chemical indus- Dr. med. h. c. Peteris Apinis, try and pharmaceutical industry are often in the hands of one busi- Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor ness group. The chemical structure of some consumer chemicals and of the World Medical Journal Maira Sudraba, Velta Pozņaka; [email protected] Journal design by Pēteris Gricenko Layout and Artwork The Latvian Medical Publisher, “Medicīnas apgāds”, President Dr. Maija Šetlere, Skolas street 3, Riga, Latvia Publisher Medicīnas apgāds, Ltd Skolas street 3, Riga, Latvia. ISSN: 2256-0580 Opinions expressed in this journal – especially those in authored contributions – do not necessarily reflect WMA policy or positions 1 WMA News Medical Ethics we find a global approach to assisting sick Apinis:World experience today shows that the WMA has its General Assembly. The Interview with Miguel Roberto Jorge, President of the doctors? these are doctors who most energetically WMA has been producing a series of poli- and honestly speak about the climate crisis cies dealing with themes of interest to the World Medical Association by WMJ Editor Peteris Apinis As said before, when physicians become and pollution of the planet, protest against environment with recommendations to be a patient, they act as any other patient. burning of forests, against the reduction of followed by physicians around the globe. the consequences of this kind of situation. meaningful investments. And I do not be- So, medical doctors need to treat them as biodiversity on the planet. What are you go- So, as the current WMA President, I will On regards of anxiety and depression, some lieve that to prepare good primary care any other patient, with courtesy, empathy, ing to do, as President of the World Medical continue to develop activities as the leaders data suggest that physicians do not present physicians will cost less than to train a good compassion, and respect. There is not other Association, in the fight for the well-being who came before me in highlighting the more depression than other people but the specialist. Any system of care, and particu- global approach than to treat well every pa- of our planet? importance of fighting against any situa- rate of suicides among physicians is higher larly those under the Universal Health Cov- tient we can have, being them physicians or tion that can decrease the world health than in the general population and, again, erage, requires good primary care physicians not. But the attending physician needs to Jorge: The World Medical Association levels. the distribution of suicide rates among dif- as well as good specialists. consider the possibility of facing colleagues counts for many years with an Environ- ferent medical specialties is not equal. In my as more difficult patients to treat. mental Caucus that meets yearly when personal opinion, the best way for a physi- Apinis: In Tbilisi, the WMA accepted a cian to feel appreciation and reduce the risk declaration on euthanasia. In this declara- of burnout is to dedicate to build a good tion, the WMA condemned euthanasia and relation with patients and share with them assisted suicide. As physicians, they can't Interview with Dr . Robert Twycross, DM Oxon, FRCP, FRCR, the power to take decisions on treatment and don't want to perform euthanasia or as- alternatives. sisted suicide. However, surveys show that Emeritus Clinical Reader in Palliative Medicine, Oxford University, physicians as patients would like to shorten Apinis: We see a new trend in world poli- their lives when they encounter major phys- Oxford, UK by WMJ Editor Peteris Apinis tics – doctors are undervalued. The global ical and mental health problems. These are Miguel Roberto Jorge trend is growing: doctors' earnings are doctors as patients who are most likely to Twycross: I am aware that in countries for a patient who fulfilled the legal criteria declining against average earnings in the refuse complicated and excessive treatment where euthanasia and/or assisted suicide could be set up and monitored. Any EAS Jorge: Peteris, An initial suggestion: ask country. Politicians and financiers, mean- if it can't significantly prolong survival and (EAS) are legal options there are palliative law is likely to lead to a negative change someone to review the English language while, talk publicly that preparing doc- improve the quality of life. How would you care services that have integrated EAS with in the way that disability and dependency in your questions. I believe they can be im- tors is too expensive, that universal health comment on a situation where a doctor, as a palliative care.