Collaboration with International Organizations

The World Medical Association (WMA) is an apolitical, independent international organization, consisting of 115 member organizations and representing millions of physicians worldwide. The WMA endeavors to ensure the independence of physicians and promote the highest possible standards of medical ethics, by providing guidance to physicians through its declarations, resolutions, and statements. The IMA is an active member of the WMA, is represented in several committees and participates in numerous work groups. Currently, IMA CEO Leah Wapner is the Chair of the WMA workgroup on Medical Technologies and Israel also chairs the workgroup on the revision of the Declaration of Taipei. Malke Borow, Director of the IMA Division of Law and Policy, sits on the WMA Review Committee.

Former IMA President Professor Leonid Eidelman was President of the WMA from 2018-2019, while former IMA President Dr. Yoram Blachar, also served as president of the WMA in 2008-2009 and as Chair of Council from 2003-2006.

The IMA initiated many policy papers that have been adopted into WMA policy and was active in the revision of the International Code of Medical Ethics which outlines a physician’s duties to patients and colleagues.

The European Forum of Medical Associations (EFMA) was  established in order to create a dialogue and cooperation between National Medical Associations (NMAs) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the European Region; to improve the quality of health and health care in Europe; promote the exchange of information and ideas between NMAs and WHO; integrate appropriate aspects of health for all policies into basic, postgraduate and continuing medical education; and as appropriate, formulate consensus policy statements on health issues.

EFMA represents approximately 63 European medical organizations and 10 observer international medical organizations. IMA CEO, Adv. Leah Wapner was elected as the Secretary-General of EFMA in April 2007 and the IMA is also represented in the EFMA Liaison Committee. In the past, the IMA has assisted EFMA in revising its guidelines and has served on various workgroups. The IMA has also presented on various topics including “Social Media”, “Professional Autonomy and Self-Regulation” and “Relationship between Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry” and has co-drafted several statements, including a statement on physician autonomy and a document on ensuring medical services during conflict.

Several EFMA Meetings have been hosted by the IMA in Israel, including the 14^th Annual Forum held in Tel Aviv in 1999, the 23^rd Annual Forum held in Tel Aviv in 2008 and the 32^nd Annual Forum held in Herzliya in 2017.

The European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) is an international non-profit organization, which defends and represents the professional interests of all European medical specialists and promotes the highest level of training for medical specialists. UEMS represents 41 countries through their national associations of medical specialists. The IMA joined UEMS in 2003 as an observer and became an associate member in 2007.  

Prof. Hanoch Kashtan, Chairman of the IMA’s Scientific Council, represents the IMA at the UEMS Council and Board meetings. In addition to attending Council and Board meetings, the IMA contributes and responds to policy. The IMA hosted the UEMS council session in Spring 2017.

The European Doctors Standing Committee (CPME) is a policy-making organization comprised of medical associations throughout Europe, representing approximately 27 national medical associations, 2 Associate Members, 3 Observers and nine associated international associations. The IMA has held observer status since 2003, participates in annual meetings and contributes and responds to policy papers issued by the organization. Additionally, the IMA is an active member in the eHealth, Pharmaceuticals and Professional Practice work groups. IMA Secretary General, Adv. Leah Wapner is also the Policy Rapporteur on Transparency and Ethics.

In November 2016 the IMA hosted the CPME Board and General Assembly in Tel Aviv.

The Israeli National Academy of Science in Medicine by the IMA was formed in October 2019 and became a member of the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) in July 2020, as its 22nd member. Prof. Ephrat Levy-Lahad, VP of the Israeli Academy serves as a Council member and Malke Borow sits on the Ethics Advisory Committee.

FEAM is the European umbrella group of 24 national Academies of Medicine, of Veterinary Sciences and of Pharmacy and Medical Sections of Academies of Sciences. It represents thousands of excellent biomedical scientists in Europe from across the disciplines. FEAM’s mission is to promote cooperation between its Member Academies; to provide them with a platform to formulate their collective voice on matters concerning human and animal medicine, biomedical research, education, and health with a European dimension; and to extend to the European authorities the advisory role that they exercise in their respective countries on these matters.  Israeli members have participated in several key workgroups and policy papers.

Confederación Médica Latinoamericana y del Caribe (CONFEMEL) is an organization that brings together the national medical associations of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Iberian Peninsula. In recent years, the organization has expanded its membership to include additional national medical associations, such as France and Italy, as honorary members. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) was also invited to join as an honorary member and has been actively involved in recent years.

In March 2023, the IMA was invited to the CONFEMEL General Assembly held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, where IMA representatives Dr. Elchanan Greenberg and Dr. Esther Barchilon participated. Additionally, in November 2024, the IMA participated in the CONFEMEL conference held in Lima, Peru, where Dr. Esther Barchilon and Rachel Kampler Ohayon from the IMA’s Scientific Council attended. At this conference, it was decided that the IMA would become an official member of the organization.

In 2025, the IMA officially joined CONFEMEL as a full member, no longer as an honorary one. The IMA is now an active participant in CONFEMEL conferences, further strengthening collaboration between Israel’s healthcare system and those of Latin American countries.

The Global Jewish Health Alliance is a non-political international initiative founded in early 2024 by the Israeli Medical Association and the American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA), in response to the events of October 7, 2023. The Alliance was created to urgently address rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism within the global healthcare community.

The Alliance stands for advocacy, support, education, and collaboration. Its mission is to form a united front that meaningfully influences global health and social justice, rooted in core Jewish values such as compassion, equality, and solidarity. By bringing together Jewish medical organizations from around the world, the Alliance aims to amplify the Jewish voice in global health, combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and promote fair and equal representation within healthcare systems.