World Academy for Biomedical Technologies


The World Academy of Biomedical Technologies was created on 21 February 1997 in collaboration with UATI (International Union of Technical Associations and Organisations) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

The health condition of citizens is of utmost importance for countries. As such, it implies a definition of objectives and the implementation of a policy consistent with these objectives with respect to the economic context. The fast pace of the development of medicine, in which medical technologies play an important role, raises the issue regarding the transfer of medical and technical know how, experienced in industrialised countries, towards countries in development.

It seems most desirable to have a proper international unit gathering the various protagonists of the healthcare field, so as to voice judicious opinions for the benefit of the political leaders of the different countries.

UNESCO will, of course, give an impetus to this action. The objective of the Academy is the creation of a forum where scientists, engineers, medical doctors, chemists, biologists and industrial leaders can exchange and share points of view within a closer and more efficient co operation. The purpose of the Academy is to promote the development of techniques in the field of healthcare, so as to provide every person with the most modern and suitable treatment, within a framework of economic constraints and ethical codes.

The Academy will achieve its goals by:

  • Joining, at an international level, research programs related to techniques, and equipment used for diagnosis and therapy combined with the provision of devices and medicines still more outstanding and better adapted
  • Defining the priorities of the implementation of new technologies mentioned above, to set up the frame of a healthcare policy by issuing legitimate recommendations with governments and competent authorities
  • Organising a world unit of co-ordination and adaptation of voluntary actions to provide to every patient the treatments that will ensure them the right to live with dignity and consistent with economic constraints
  • Educating and making people responsible and namely the large 'healthcare addicted' in order to avoid repeated consultations and unnecessary expenses
  • Helping members set up relationship of mutual assistance with other members and comparable non-members associations, the United States and also the United Nations and their specialised agencies to transfer to less-favoured countries technical and medical knowledge
  • Creating any committee, group, working group, commission, operational group to study matters related to the fields of sciences, medicine and industry
  • Doing whatever can be done to provide members with moral support and material assistance and coordinating their activities and their programs.

Who's who in WABT?

The Academy's headquarters is located in the UATI premises in 1 rue Miollis, 75732 Cedex 15, Paris, France. The affairs of WABT are administered by a Governing Council. Its current composition is as follows:

President Boris Berkovski, Paris, France
First Vice President in charge of Medical Affairs Pierre Rabischong, Montpellier, France
Second Vice President in charge of Scientific AffairsJanie Fouke, Arlington, VA, USA
Third Vice President in charge of Industrial Affairs Yasutsugu Takeda, Tokyo, Japan
Secretary General Jean-Max Labansat Bascou, Paris, France
Joint General Secretary Jos Van der Sloten, Leuven, Belgium
General Treasurer Noël Murati, Paris, France
Joint General Treasurer Heinz Lemke, Berlin, Germany
General Delegate in charge of studies André Levesvre
General Delegate in charge of communication Jacques Crosnier
Special Advisor to the President Elie Absi

Governing rules

The Academy comprises of at most 120 Academians. In addition, there can be an unlimited number of corresponding and associate members. All three member categories have the right to vote in the General Assembly. All three categories have to pay annual membership dues.

The affairs of the Adacemy are run by the Administrative Council. It has 18 members. In addition to the positions (and names) mentioned above there are six positions for regional delegates (Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Europe) and two positions for two delegates in charge of specific applications.