The AMA Delegation to the World Medical Association plays a major role in proposing and authoring global policy on many important issues. As the predominant U.S. medical association, the AMA is the only national medical association eligible for membership in the WMA.
What is the World Medical Association (WMA)?
Founded in 1947, the WMA is a non-governmental, not-for-profit voluntary organization representing 9 million physicians from 115 national medical associations.
Since its founding, the WMA’s scope of agenda has expanded to include social, public health and medical practice concerns.
AMA’s WMA delegation
As a founding WMA member, the AMA’s longstanding WMA membership creates a beneficial synergy and strong working relationship between the two organizations.
The AMA sends a delegation consisting of the three AMA presidents to the WMA to propose, debate and adopt WMA policies and an advocacy agenda on global health issues. The WMA conducts its work through the executive council, where the AMA has three votes, and the broadly representative General Assembly consisting of 118 member nations.
Several AMA delegates have been elected by WMA members to high-level leadership positions within the WMA, including WMA president and council chair. Former AMA President Jack Resneck Jr., MD, currently serves as WMA Council Chair.
Policy development
WMA policies contribute to an international policy database that influences global health policy. The AMA’s large and well-developed policy base serves as a starting point for many of the WMA’s policies, both ethical and social. Explore WMA policies or learn how to join as an individual associate member.
Recent AMA-led policies at the WMA include:
- The revision of the Declaration of Helsinki Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects
- Advocacy for physician well-being
- Condemnation of global anti-LGBTQ legislation
- Condemnation of female genital mutilation legislation
- Concern over e-cigarettes and ENDS
Learn more about the AMA’s international activities under the direction of the AMA Office of International Relations.
