Physicians urged to participate in health systems change to safeguard professional autonomy: New Global Physician leader
New World Medical Association President Dr Ashok Philip calls on physicians worldwide to contribute to healthcare policy development and health system change
Incoming President of the World Medical Association, Dr Ashok Philip, launched a call for physicians worldwide to continue contributing to healthcare policy development and healthcare systems change, as the medical landscape continues to evolve.
His inaugural address, delivered at the World Medical Association General Assembly in Helsinki, focused on the necessity of the medical profession to stay actively engaged in the evolution of healthcare delivery and health systems, to ensure the best outcomes for patients and to safeguard professional autonomy.
Dr Philip told physicians present in Helsinki that while policy and planning could be seen as tedious work and “take us away from direct patient care, in the long term it protects our patients, and that is what we have sworn to do.”
Dr Philip detailed threats to the professional autonomy of physicians, threats which have been exacerbated by increasing healthcare costs as life expectancy increases. He emphasized the importance of professional autonomy, which he believes is the most under threat, and warned that if this autonomy is compromised, patients will suffer.
On efforts to reduce healthcare budgets, Dr Philip stated, “Issues of accessibility and rationing may arise, and again it is our responsibility to bring evidence to the table to help guide policymakers in making their decisions. We must also be alert for the intrusion of political agendas into healthcare.”
He continued, “We should very carefully consider if profit as seen in the commercial arena should be allowed free rein in medical situations. Nobody chooses to get sick. Patients have little choice but to take the treatments available.”
Dr Philip stressed the importance of guidelines, independent of purely financial considerations, to decide how patients are treated, and said that these guidelines must be drawn up by physicians. He said that steps towards removing or excluding physicians from healthcare delivery teams, ostensibly to handle shortages of medical professionals, but as cost-cutting measures, must be resisted.
“The natural leaders in healthcare should be those who can look at the whole picture, and that generally means doctors. It is not in the best interests of patients individually or systems as a whole that physicians be removed from their leadership roles.”
As he begins his year as President of the World Medical Association, representing more than nine million physicians worldwide, Dr Philip calls on medical professionals to lead the way to a better future for patients, communities, and the profession.
In her Valedictory address, outgoing WMA President Dr Lujain AlQodmani, highlighted the immense challenges that physicians today face. “Conflicts rage, climate change, economic crises, and violations of human rights continue,” said Dr AlQodmani.
She continued that healthcare has been severely threatened by over 980 attacks reported by the WHO surveillance system in conflict areas like Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza this year. Doctors from various countries are demanding safer working environments, systemic change, respect, and their moral duty.
Dr AlQodmani noted the role of WMA in fostering international collaboration to advance progress to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs) particularly Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that health remains a right, not a privilege.
