The Making of International Partnerships: IAMRA
Dale L. Austin, MADeputy Chair
IAMRA Management Committee
American Association of Osteopathic Examiners Summit
January 7, 2006
The Beginning
International conferences since 1994 International collaboration among medical
regulators recognized as essential to public protection United States (Washington, DC) – 1994 Australia (Melbourne) – 1996 South Africa (Cape Town) – 1998 United Kingdom (Oxford) – 2000
Exchanged ideas and discussed common problems affecting delivery and regulation of medical practice
Formation
Conferences generated support for an International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA)
Planning document approved in 2000 establishing an Interim Governing Committee and outlining steps to be taken to develop a permanent governance structure
Founding Members
Australian Medical Council
Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States
General Medical Council – United Kingdom
Medical Council of Ireland
Medical Council of New Zealand
Health Professions Council of South Africa
National Board of Health and Welfare – Sweden
Purpose
To support medical regulatory authorities worldwide in protecting the public interest by promoting high standards for physician education, licensure and regulation, and facilitating the ongoing exchange of information among medical regulatory authorities.
Goals
Advocate and promote high standards Facilitate international collaboration Provide a forum for developing and sharing
new approaches Encourage and support research, policy
analysis and policy development Serve as information source
Establishment
Formalized in June 2002 at the 5th International Conference on Medical Regulation – Toronto, Canada
FSMB serving as Secretariat [email protected]
Web site: www.IAMRA.com Current membership: 72 organizations in 30 countries Tax-exempt corporation
Management Committee
Officers Chair
Prof. Thanyani Mariba, Chair, Medical and Dental Professions Board, Health Professions Council of South Africa
Deputy Chair Dale Austin, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer, Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States
Management Committee (continued)
Members-at-large Dr. John Hillery, President, Medical Council of Ireland
Sue Ineson, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Council of New Zealand
Dr. Sunil Khattri, Registrar and Secretary, Delhi Medical Council (India)
Dr. Ossama Rasslan, Secretary General, Egyptian Medical Syndicate
Finlay Scott, Chief Executive and Registrar, General Medical Council (United Kingdom)
Current Areas of Focus
Enhance membership in the Association
Secure funding for specific projects and for helping low income member organizations send delegates to IAMRA meetings
Establish IAMRA as an organization actively working to fulfill its responsibilities
Works in Progress
Fast Track Credentials System (FTCS) To quickly process licensure applications of medical
practitioners who meet or exceed “gold standards.”
Global collaborations Le Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins Français
(CEOM)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Working Group on CME/CPD Accreditation
Works in Progress (continued)
7th International Conference – November 11-14, 2006, New Zealand
Expansion of website Active resource for IAMRA members Clearinghouse for jurisdiction-specific information Central repository for physician information Working Group on CME/CPD members only section
Physician migration study
Thesaurus of medical regulatory terms
Works in Progress (continued)
Bylaws Committee
Exam Review Working Group
Finance and Development Committee
Projects to be initiated Establish Nominating Committee
Model for unique identifiers
Facilitate a sustainable development model for third world nations
Promising Future
IAMRA strives to be responsive to the needs and future direction of medical regulatory authorities worldwide
Communication, participation and interaction by all medical regulatory authorities deemed paramount to the true success of this international collaboration
Dale L. AustinSr. Vice President/COOFederation of State Medical Boards
PO Box 619850Dallas, TX 75261-9850Tel: 817.868.4060 Fax: 817.868.4152Email: [email protected]