Chair's report from the World Medical Association

Chair’s report from the World Medical Association
Tobacco Cessation was the focus of the day long scientific session. Dr Ockelford spoke briefly from the floor. The highlight from the New Zealand perspective was the presentation by Dr Richard Hurt, Mayo Clinic. He praised the ‘endgame thinking’ evident in the goal of a Smokefree NZ by 2025 and congratulated New Zealand for its courage, political will and popular mandate to return the country to a lifestyle where non-smoking is the norm.

On the final day the General Assembly discussed end of life care; guidelines concerning torture; prison conditions and tuberculosis; the global burden of chronic disease and the UN Global Summit on non-communicable disease and social determinants (19-21 October). The Summit has over 1200 delegates and is is run by the World Health Organisation. Dr Ockelford presented on the Christchurch Earthquake disaster response, from the podium, in the Open Session following the special session on Current Disaster responses.