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About the WFNMB
The World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) were founded in 1970, at the third ALASBIMN Congress in Mexico City, and the First World Congress of Nuclear Medicine was held in 1974 in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. This meant that new links were now forged between all Americas, Europe and Asia, Oceania, and Africa, and these were gradually strengthened in subsequent years. The WFNMB consists of groups, societies or associations acknowledged as representatives in each country primarily involved with research, education, training and/or practice in Nuclear Medicine and Biology.
One of the features of the WFNMB which should be used to the benefit of the members of the WFNMB, and to Nuclear Medicine globally, is the integration of developed and developing countries. This creates opportunities for shared activities, amongst others in performing research on unique disease profiles in the developing world. Some might argue that people in developing countries should restrict their research focus to diseases that principally affect their countries. If that were generalized to all countries, rich countries would not carry out research on tropical diseases, and the developing countries would do little research on chronic diseases. This strategy would violate two fundamental principles of science. First, connectivity in science is unpredictable: research on one disease or problem often brings conceptual or technological advances that are vital to progress in others; therefore, to the extent possible, every country should support a relatively broad spectrum of research. Second, creative science requires the freedom to pursue ideas. Progress in science is not fostered by restricting freedom of inquiry. There is every reason to believe that scientists in developing countries will create knowledge of value to diseases that primarily afflict people in industrial countries, both because of the convergence of health problems and because scientific knowledge is a public good. It also creates opportunities for training of people either on state-of-the-art equipment, or under the expertise of world leaders in Nuclear Medicine.
The primary role of the WFNMB is the progress and promotion of nuclear medicine throughout the many regions of the world. The WFNMB quadrennial Congresses, since the first congress in 1974 the most important activity of the WFNMB, have become a major international forum for the presentation of all aspects of basic, applied and clinical nuclear medicine research, diagnosis and treatment of various disorders. While the previous activities of the WFNMB were mainly concerned with holding successful World Congresses, this Executive Committee will strive to initiate consistent and systematic activities to promote and develop nuclear medicine practice around the world, especially in the developing world.
The WFNMB is governed by the Governing Council comprised of the leadership of the member societies. Additional members include representatives from other important role players in the field, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The primary strategic goal of the executive committee is to implement the WFNMB Objectives, which are listed in the charter of the WFNMB. These objectives are:
- To develop co-operation between groups, societies and associations formed on a national level and active in the role Nuclear Medicine and Biology.
- To promote the development of Nuclear Medicine and Biology at global level.
- To represent with one voice all Nuclear Medicine activities to the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other appropriate organizations.
- To organize whatever commissions and meetings are necessary to attain such objectives, in particular convening specialists in Nuclear Medicine and Biology in a Congress of the Federation.
- To prepare and recommend the organization of a unified programme of teaching and training in the field of Nuclear Medicine and Biology.
- To establish technical standards, to aid in the diffusion of knowledge and exchange of scientific and technical information by means of conferences, colloquia, symposia and courses on regional, national and international levels.
- To publish, alone or in collaboration, monographs, studies, teaching, courses, reports from conferences, colloquia, symposia and congresses concerning Nuclear Medicine and Biology.
- To facilitate the exchange of scientists between the member groups, societies and associations and to set up a body which will centralize and help such exchange.
From these objectives, the current executive of the WFNMB has identified strategic and programmatic goals for the WFNMB. These are illustrated in the diagram below:
One of the most important initial activities will be to establish the WFNMB as a legal identity and setting up a permanent office of the WFNMB. The outcomes expected from such a permanent office will be:
- Greater coherence, simplicity, and harmonization within the WFNMB system
- Improved efficiency, effectiveness and coherence of WFNMB, World Journal of Nuclear Medicine (WJNM) and World Radiopharmaceutical and Therapy Council (WRTC)
- Enhanced developmental impact of WFNMB in the least developed countries and in other developing countries
- More predictable, stable funding for WFNMB
Goals
The South African Society of Nuclear Medicine has set the following goals for the term of reference of the WFNMB from 2006 – 2010, including the 2010 Congress:
- General Goals
- To initiate programmes and activities to stimulate the growth of Nuclear Medicine in developing countries, including programmes on quality assurance and quality control
- To organise a congress of academic excellence, including topics concerning pathology relevant to the developed and developing world.
- Congress Scientific Goals
Continuing Education Meetings on:- Infection imaging
- Studies in HIV/AIDS patients
- New developments in general clinical Nuclear Medicine
- New developments in imaging devices
Workshops on:- Cost-effective and evidence-based Nuclear Medicine
- Diagnostic algorithms
- Planning and sustaining a Nuclear Medicine service in a developing country
- Socio-political Goals
- Stimulate the development of Nuclear Medicine in Africa in an effort to improve health care delivery on the continent
- Stimulate international collaboration between Nuclear Medicine departments in developing countries and their peers in the rest of the world
- Provide opportunity for participation in the congress for deserving delegates from developing countries by subsidising congress attendance
- Provide a forum for young scientists to meet international experts and to present their own research work
Advocacy
Although the WFNMB has member countries from developed and developing regions, more of the development and training and teaching activities planned by the current executive committee will be focused on the developing regions. Expertise from the developed regions will be sought to support these activities. Programmes will also be launched to increase the membership of the Federation by communication with those countries with Nuclear Medicine facilities who are presently not members of the WFNMB.
Legal aspects
Incorporating the WFNMB will help us to operate as a legal entity which exists in its own right in the eyes of the law, separate and distinct from the individuals who are involved in it. A company is like a person in law. It can sue, or to be sued, in its own name. And the WFNMB can enter into contracts and own property all in its own name, as mandated by the members to establish a permanent office.
Most countries have laws which regulate the establishment and management of nonprofit organizations and which require compliance with corporate governance regimes. Most larger organizations are required to publish their financial reports detailing their income and expenditure for the public. This will ensure that WFNMB is financially compliant.