BMA Representatives vote unanimously for Healthcare Information For All

CHIPPING NORTON, U.K. - July 10, 2015 - PRLog -- The British Medical Association Annual Representative Meeting has voted unanimously in favour of the following motion: “That this meeting applauds efforts to bring essential healthcare information to citizens in low resource settings, welcomes the BMA’s ongoing support for the Healthcare Information for All campaign, and calls upon the UK government to prioritise support for initiatives that improve the availability and use of health information.”

The motion was put forward by Dr Elisabeth McElderry (South West Regional Council) and supported by the Deputy Chair of Council, Dr Kailash Chand.

Dr Elisabeth McElderry said: ‘This motion brings to your attention the ambitious and far-reaching small organisation called Healthcare Information for All, or HIFA for short… The BMA and its international department have been the main funder via applications made to the charitable purposes subcommittee. The BMA has also provided help in kind by making meeting facilities available and representing HIFA projects in discussions with WHO and UNICEF. Here’s a quote from a paediatrician: “HIFA is extremely effective on the ground, with a high membership in many countries, and great communication between grass roots and academia”. RB, your backing would give added impetus to the BMA’s involvement in this vital project and encouragement to Government to move this forward by such means as making a public commitment to this cause, and giving assistance with in-country initiatives.

BMA Deputy Chair of Council: “Thank you, BMA has supported HIFA since 2008. Acceptance of this motion would send a message to the Government and enable BMA and HIFA to open a dialogue with ministers on a strong footing, so I would recommend that we support this motion.”

The motion was carried unanimously. HIFA and the BMA International Department will now work together to implement the policy and improve the availability and use of health information in low- and middle-income countries.

Please retweet:

.@TheBMA vote supports #HIFA @hifa_org See the debate http://tinyurl.com/pwhvwox (00:59.30) Call on UK Gov 2 prioritise #healthcareinformation initiatives

Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator
Martin Carroll, Deputy Head, International Department, BMA

On behalf of the HIFA Steering Group
http://www.hifa2015.org/about/administration/