IHEEM well represented at IFHE Council meeting

As well as accepting various financial statements, the meeting involved wideranging discussion of various issues and there follows a summary of the major decisions made. The medical engineering institute in Malaysia (BEAM) has been admitted to full IFHE membership and Uganda was reinstated after paying all arrears and current fees. This is particularly welcome as the continent of Africa is not well represented internationally and faces enormous challenges in all areas of the hospital service. IFHE has established a reserve fund to provide assistance to such countries and help them to establish institutes of their own and eventually to become full members of the International Federation. The meeting was addressed by a representative of the World Health Organisation, which is seeking IHEEM members who have practical experience of hospital engineering to contribute to a series of training workshops, which are being organised in developing countries. If you wish to receive further information contact Bill Pym at IHEEM. Germany announced the setting up of a European competence centre for medical engineering in Hanover and an associated conference which was held at Baden Baden in September. IFHE Council agreed in principle to the formation of a European regional group which will develop terms of reference and objectives for approval at the next meeting. There will be a further issue of the popular Business Briefing and all IHEEM members will receive a copy through the International Federation. Once again Bill Pym and his staff were congratulated on the excellent administration service provided under the contract with IFHE. The fees earned make a direct contribution to the running costs of IHEEM’s Portsmouth headquarters. The contract has been revised and extended for a further two years. IHEEM is well represented on the international stage and we look forward to the Congress in Capetown next year and the 2008 congress which will take place in Barcelona.