CMA Policy
The CMA PolicyBase
The CMA PolicyBase is a fully searchable database containing the full text of all current CMA policy. Each record has been enhanced with meta-data about the policy including its date of creation, most recent review date, resolution number and subject headings.
The Basic Search interface provides a “Google” like interface for simple, straight-forward queries, while the Advanced Search option provides a powerful, robust engine with numerous filters for more complex searching.
What is CMA policy?
Canadian Medical Association policy describes the Association’s positions on issues relevant to the Canadian healthcare system, medical education, the practice of medicine, and issues of importance to Canadian physicians and their patients. Canadian physicians value and support advocacy as a one of the most important activities of the CMA. CMA policy is a key instrument used by the Association to carry out its mandate to serve and unite the physicians of Canada and be the national advocate, in partnership with the people of Canada, for the highest standards of health and health care. CMA policy serves to inform decisions and actions of Canadian physicians, lawmakers, health policy decision makers, other health professionals, and the general public.
Who sets CMA policy?
General Council is the governing body of the Canadian Medical Association. It meets annually in August at the same time as the Association’s Annual General meeting. Described as the parliament of Canadian medicine, General Council is the Association’s supreme policy- making body. Between meetings of General Council, the CMA Board of Directors is delegated policymaking authority for the Association.
Types of CMA policy
CMA policy is found in two formats:
- Policy documents
Policy documents approved by a resolution of General Council or the Board of Directors are policy. Policy documents provide discussions and summaries on key policy topics. Their official sanction as policy recognizes the due diligence with which they were created and provides members, Canadian physicians and the general public with well articulated normative statements endorsed by the CMA on important issues. - Resolutions
All resolutions passed by General Council or the Board of Directors which deal with advocacy issues are policy. Administrative resolutions, which deal with general corporate/management issues, are not included in the CMA PolicyBase.
The policy review process
CMA policy is reviewed regularly to ensure that it is timely and relevant. Policy statements are reviewed annually and either sunset or retained, while resolutions are reviewed every five years. Sunset policies are referred to the relevant council or committee for review. These include the Committee on Ethics, the Council on Education and Workforce, the Council on Health Care and Promotion, the Council on Health Policy and Economics and the Political Action Committee. They make recommendations with regard to the status of the sunset policies which are forwarded to the Board of Directors for a final decision as part of the annual policy review at its February board meeting. Status options are as follows: rescind, still relevant, or still relevant with revisions.
The review history for each resolution and policy document can be found as part of its record in the CMA PolicyBase under the heading "Status."
Copyright
You may, for your non-commercial use, reproduce, in whole or in part and in any form or manner, unlimited copies of CMA policy statements provided that credit is given to the original source. Any other use, including republishing,redistribution, storage in a retrieval system or posting on a Web site requires explicit permission from CMA. Please complete our form.
Correspondence and requests for additional copies should be addressed to the Member Service Centre.
