Bangladesh Medical Association

Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) a national organisation of the doctors of Bangladesh and the spokesman of the medical profession. Doctors registered under the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (MBBS and equivalent degree holders) are eligible to become members of the organisation. BMA has branches in all districts of Bangladesh. The National Council and Executive Committee, directly elected by members, are the highest authority of the organisation.

BMA was established in 1948 as the Pakistan Medical Association (East Zone). During the liberation war of Bangladesh (1971) freedom fighter doctors formed Bangladesh Medical Association. After independence, the government formed an adhoc committee, which supervised the formation of a full-fledged BMA Executive Committee through direct election in 1972.

The Bangladesh Medical Association is a member organisation of the Commonwealth Medical Association and World Medical Association, and is affiliated to the British Medical Association. BMA is the Bangladesh Chapter of the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). It is represented in most government committees on health, medical, and population control.

The principal aims and objectives of BMA are to improve professionalism, in the health system, and to realise the genuine demands of doctors. BMA formed a combined organisation with the Institute of Engineers, and Agriculturists for safeguarding the rights and privileges of the scientific profession. The association is a member of the BCS Coordination Committee. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Medical Association is located at BMA Bhaban, 15 Topkhana Road, Dhaka. [Sarwar Ali]