IMA Introduction

							The Israeli Medical Association

          September 2004
The Israeli Medical Association

    FOUNDED: 1912, 36 years before the
       founding of the State of Israel.
      Confirmed by the courts as the representative
       body of physicians in Israel.
      Despite membership being voluntary, 94% of
       physicians in Israel are members of the IMA.
       The IMA also incorporates 155 scientific
       associations, societies and workgroups.
Goals of the IMA

   To improve and promote the medical
      profession, medical services and the health of
      people in Israel and formulate a system of
      quality improvement in health care.
     To establish comprehensive health policy
      within a broader context of social policy.
     To secure the physician’s status, rights and
      autonomy.
Goals of the IMA

   To champion the cause of the patient and
      preserve a positive doctor-patient relationship
      in the face of diminishing resources and
      external obstructions.
     To ensure high clinical standards combined
      with ethical behavior and professional
      integrity.
Structure of the IMA

   Executive board-sets organizational policy.
   Scientific council-certifies medical specialists,
      develops and oversees curricula and
      examinations, furthers CME.
     Ethics committee-establishes and monitors
      ethical standards for physicians, investigates
      ethical complaints, sets ethical guidelines.
Structure of the IMA

   Recent policy documents include: health care
    for foreign workers, organ transplants,
    genetic research, relationship between doctors
    and pharmaceutical companies, assurance of
    health care in times of conflict, intimate
    relations between doctors and patients.
IMA Membership in
International Organizations
    World Medical Association
      Dr. Yoram Blachar, IMA President, is Chair
        of Council
    European Forum of Medical Associations/WHO
       IMA is member of Liaison Committee
    Standing Committee of European Doctors
     (CPME)
    European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)
IMA Bi-lateral Contacts with Other
Medical Associations
     IMA has hosted delegations from other countries.
        In 2004 two such delegations came from Russia
       IMA representatives participate in major events of
        other medical associations overseas. In 2004, the
        IMA was represented in the national conventions
        of the German, Canadian and American Medical
        Associations
       IMA exchanges ideas, information and experience
        with other medical associations regarding various
        health/medical issues
Major activities

    Health policy involvement in areas such as
     patient safety, health care reform, inclusion of
     new technologies in the health care basket,
     violence against doctors, mediation in the health
     care context, cooperation with other NGO’s such
     as patients’ rights and civil rights organizations.
    Research and implementation of QA programs,
     development of clinical guidelines, informed
     consent forms and clinical databases.
Major activities

    Involvement in legislation affecting
       physicians, the profession or public health,
       such as alternative medicine, mental health
       reforms, medical malpractice, national health
       insurance.
      Public relations, three medical journals,
       occasional publications on matters of interest
       to physicians, internet site.
Major activities

    Legal and economic counsel to individual
       physicians, representation in collective
       bargaining agreements, CME.
      International relations - vis a vis individual
       physicians, international organizations, public
       health projects.
International Releations
Activity within EFMA and WMA

   Active in various committees and workgroups.
   Co-drafted statement on right of child to health
    care.
   Drafted proposed statement on relationship
    between physicians and commercial industry.
   Involved in such issues as no-fault insurance,
    physicians and stress, physician autonomy.
   Key party in drafting statement concerning the
    assurance of health care services during times of
    conflict.
Activity within EFMA

   The IMA is a member of the European
      Forum of Medical Associations (EFMA) of
      the WHO as well as a member of the EFMA
      Liaison Committee.
     The IMA has coordinated several projects for
      EFMA, among them: EFMA guiding
      principles, patient empowerment, physician
      autonomy, doctors and stress.
World Fellowship Foundation

   Organizes physician exchange programs with
      other countries.
     Assists in creating scientific contacts between
      medical professionals and institutions in
      Israel with similar bodies abroad.
     Obtains financial support for research
      projects.
     Seeks to strengthen the bond between Israel
      and Jewish doctors abroad.
World Health Organization

   IMA was contracted this year by WHO to
      develop a case study on migrating physicians
     IMA develops joint research projects with the
      WHO’s Department of Violence and Injuries
      Prevention
IMA’s Response to the Intifada

    With the inception of the second Intifada, the
     IMA was forced to defend itself against
     international charges of inhumane behavior,
     including shooting at ambulances, detention of
     medical services, etc. There was talk of expelling
     the IMA from the WMA.
    The IMA established a committee whose
     members spanned the political spectrum and
     whose purpose was to meet with various groups,
     examine the situation and formulate a position.
IMA’s Response to the Intifada

    The committee drafted a position statement
     that called for the provision of medical
     services to the civilian population and free
     passage of medical personnel, recognized the
     need to balance this with security measures
     and condemned terror, particularly the
     exploitation of ambulances for terrorist
     purposes. This statement was accepted, with
     minor modifications, by the WMA and
     EFMA.
IMA’s Response to the Intifada

    The development of its internet site in English to
     cover news and opinions.
    An ongoing working relationship with the IDF
     medical liaison to the coordinator of civilian
     activities in the territories and chief medical
     officer, international red cross and physicians for
     human rights.
    Introduction, along with IDF and Association for
     Civil Rights in Israel, of a course on human
     rights to medical officers.
IMA’s Response to the Intifada

    Introduction, along with IDF and Association for
     Civil Rights in Israel, of a course on human
     rights to medical officers.
    Attempts to forge a mutual statement or medical
     symposium with the Palestinians were refused.
    The IMA was greatly assisted in this area by
     Jewish physicians and associations abroad,
     emphasizing the need for a strong and lasting
     connection between the IMA and the medical
     community in other countries.
Your IMA Contacts:

   President - Yoram Blachar, MD
   Secretary General -Adv. - Leah Wapner
   Director, International Relations and Legal Dept.
      Adv. - Malke Borow
     Head, International Operations and Projects –
      Inon Schenker, PhD, MPH
     International Relations Coordinator – Mrs Esti
      Sherbelis


        2 Twin Towers, 35 Jabotinsky Street, Ramat Gan 52136
 Tel: +972 3 6100400, Fax: +972 3 5753303 Email: estish@ima.org.il