IMO Position Papers
Alcohol and Young People - Sep 2013
Alcohol is directly associated with over 60 acute and chronic conditions. The IMO has clear policy in relation to the sale and promotion of alcohol to young people and is calling above all for the introduction of a minimum pricing structure for the sale of alcohol in Ireland as well as a total ban on all advertising and promotion.
The Doctor as Advocate - Role of the Doctor Series - Apr 2013
The Role of Advocate has been identified as one of the most important duties and responsibilities of each and every doctor. In July 2012, the IMO carried out a survey of members to find out what the advocacy role means to Irish doctors, the results of which can be found in the IMO Position Paper on The Doctor as Advocate.
Social Media - Apr 2013
Social media and other interactive online applications are dynamic and constantly evolving dimensions in modern society. These applications often cross public and private domains, inextricably linking both professional and personal lives. This guidance is aimed at doctors and medical students who interact with social media and other online platforms both professionally and personally to remain fully aware of the both the positive and negative implications of their online actions.
Child Health - Oct 2012
The health of our children is vital to the social and economic growth of our country. Ensuring that children have the healthiest start in life provides the basis for good health in adulthood and is key to addressing inequalities. IMO Policy in relation to Child Health Promotion and Services can be found in our Position Paper on Child Health.
The Market Model of Health Care - Caveat Emptor - Apr 2012
The Government is proposing major reform of the Irish healthcare system, based on the Dutch model with managed competition between public and private health insurers and between public and private providers. This Position Paper examines the impact of the market approach to healthcare in the USand the Netherlands as well as our own experiences of healthcare markets in Ireland in order that we can learn from other systems and address the undesirable features in advance.
IMO Position Paper on Health Inequalities - Mar 2012
Reducing health inequalities not only improves the health of the population but will, by extension, lead to improvements in the productive capacity of the country and long-term savings to health and social welfare spending. The IMO Position Paper calls on the Government to address the social determinants of health through a Health-in-All-Policies Approach. The Paper also highlights the Role of Primary Care and Child Health Services in addressing Inequalities in Health.
Health Inequalities - a Joint Paper from the IMO and BMA(NI) -March 2012
The Irish Medical Organisation [IMO] and the British Medical Association Northern Ireland [BMA (NI)] are calling on their governments, north and south, to lead the way in vigorously tackling health inequalities. This joint paper was presented to MEPs in Brussels on the 7th March 2012.
Doctor - Patient Confidentiality - Role of the Doctor Series - Apr 2011
Confidentiality is central to trust in the doctor-patient relationship. Doctors diagnose and treat illness based on information given to them by the patient in confidence. Confidentiality is a necessary pre-requisite which allows patients to communicate their symptoms, experience, beliefs, concerns and expectations about their illness and their treatment.
Advocating for Change - IMO Position Papers 2005-2010 - Apr 2011
In 2010, the IMO surveyed GP and Consultant Psychiatrist members to find out the major issues affecting the treatment of patients with mental health illness. The IMO Position Paper on Mental Health Services are based on the result of that survey and on issues raised at Annual General Meetings of the IMO in recent years.
IMO Policy Paper on Mental Health Services - Nov 2010
In 2010, the IMO surveyed GP and Consultant Psychiatrist members to find out the major issues affecting the treatment of patients with mental health illness. Doctors are frustrated that patients continue to be treated in antiquated institutions inappropriate to their needs and community mental health teams are inadequately staffed for the provision of holistic multidisciplinary care.
IMO Position Paper on Universal Health Coverage - Apr 2010
Ireland’s health care system faces a number of challenges namely that of access to services, inequity and sustainability. Recently universal health insurance has been a central issue in political debate.