ABSTRACT
Medical organisations can assist governments and other non-government organisations seeking to improve ways to effectively interact with medical practitioners and so work together to improve the safety and quality of healthcare. Membership of some organisations may be compulsory, for example local medical practitioner boards and medical indemnity or insurance providers. Medical leaders must work with many stakeholders including governments, private health insurers and other health funders, hospitals and other health organisations, and consumer representative organisations, on a diverse array of issues including ethical dilemmas related to new technologies, e-health, health issues in the media and the threat of new and re-emerging diseases. It is common for health issues to dominate elections of governments. As a united profession, doctors have considerable power and influence, especially when working with consumer advocacy organisations and bodies representing other healthcare professionals, to advocate for better access to high-quality medical and other healthcare services.
