International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities

The International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) is an American membership organization based in Euless, Texas.

In May 1994, the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States (FSMB), under contract with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, planned and hosted the 1st International Conference on Medical Regulation in Washington, D.C. Participants included representatives of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Observers attended from Egypt, Israel, Mexico and Taiwan.¹⁾

Designed to initiate dialogue among the attendees, the conference focused on the status of medical regulation in participating nations, examined current research on topical subjects and identified emerging research needs. The attendees concluded that regulatory issues are not unique to any one nation (a sentiment that holds true today) and decided to hold a second conference in Australia in 1996. That began a pattern of biennial conferences that continues to this day, albeit disrupted in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September 2000, medical regulatory authorities from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, the UK and the USA formed the International Association of Medical Licencing Authorities, which was formally incorporated in 2004 in the State of Texas as the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA). The IAMRA Secretariat continues to be supported by the FSMB.²⁾

“Given the mobility of the medical workforce, IAMRA also recognises that the impacts of medical regulation can be felt across the world; what happens in one jurisdiction has the potential to affect another, both positively and adversely. Facilitating interconnectedness and collaboration is the mechanism by which IAMRA fosters best practice and collegiality in medical regulation.”

IAMRA develops consensus statements based on collaborative input from multiple international regulatory agencies that help regulators navigate a wide variety of key issues. Statements have been published on issues ranging from physician health and well-being, to the accreditation of medical education.

Full article: International Conference on Medical Regulation

IAMRA conferences are often the primary source of continuing professional development (or continuing medical education) for many physicians who participate in some capacity, in medical regulation. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of the 13th International Conference in Johannesburg in September 2020.

IAMRA has 118 members from every world region.⁵⁾

• Management Committee
• Membership and Programs Committee
• Regulatory Best Practice Working Group
• Physician Information Exchange Working Group
• Research Working Group