Founded 1992 (1992) Area served Worldwide | Location London, United-Kingdom Members 1500 | |
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Type Charity for health professionals Slogan Challenging barriers to health | ||
Medact is a non-profit organisation and registered charity for and of health professionals. Its current director is Dr David McCoy, a public health physician and academic.
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Medact was formed in 1992 following the merger of Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW) and the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (MCANW). Following the merger of these not-for-profit medical peace organisations, Medact broadened its mission to include the health threats posed by climate change and economic inequality.
Their areas of work are spread across four main areas: War And Weapons, Climate and Ecology, Economic Justice and Health and Human Rights. Medact is affiliated to International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
Medact's previous work
Medact has been tracking the health impact of the war in Iraq. They have issued a three reports and two shorter 'updates', have defended the Lancet surveys of casualties of the Iraq War and, as part of the Count the Casualties campaign have called for an independent investigation into increased mortality in Iraq.
Medact has produced reports documenting the phenomenon of health worker migration from less economically developed nations to rich countries, which they describe as a "perverse subsidy".
Medact also work on the health of refugees in the UK, in particular documenting and challenging barriers to healthcare.
Medact have been involved in the Global Health Watch, a civil society project aiming to produce alternative versions of the World Health Organisation's annual World Health Report.