The Assembly is open to all constituent members of the World Medical Association, to associate members, to observers and to other individuals by special invitation.

FMA's invitation video link: https://youtu.be/HZArHH7heio​

Please find the online form GA 2024/Delegations/Oct2024​ to enable the Constituent Member to submit the names, addresses and language preferences of the delegates to the WMA General Assembly from your national medical association. The return of the completed form, and any future changes to it, is essential for your delegation to be recognised officially by the Credentials Committee. Furthermore, the information on the form is necessary to enable both the host association and the WMA Secretariat to make the final arrangements for the meeting.

The number of delegates each member association is entitled to appoint is governed by Chapter IV, Section 3 of the WMA Articles and Bylaws, which reads:

"Delegates appointed by the Constituent Members of the Association in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. Each Constituent Member shall be entitled to appoint one delegate to the General Assembly for each 10,000 physician members of the national medical association, and/or each portion thereof, provided that the Constituent Member shall have paid its dues to the World Medical Association in full, based upon such membership. (For example, a Constituent Member that pays WMA dues for 6,500 physician members shall be entitled to one General Assembly delegate. A Constituent Member that pays WMA dues for 24,900 physician members shall be entitled to three delegates.) Such delegates shall be the only members of the General Assembly with the right to vote. Constituent members may also appoint one or more alternate delegates, who may attend meetings of the General Assembly and may vote in the absence of any delegates."

Each delegate and alternate delegate appointed by a Constituent Member shall hold a diploma or degree in medicine recognized by the National Medical Association of his/her country; be licensed to practice medicine in that country; be a member of his/her national medical association; and be resident in the territory of that association (Chapter IV, Section 4 of the WMA Articles and Bylaws).

Please complete the online form as soon as possible and no later than 6 September 2024.

The hotel booking link is available on this page. Please scroll down!

Scandic Grand Central Helsinki​

           Vilhonkatu 13, 00100 Helsinki

           Tel: +358 300308401

180 rooms have been reserved for the peak nights for the WMA General Assembly participants. 

The hotel has offered a special rate for WMA participants, which includes buffet breakfast and standard internet. All room rates include 10% VAT. All meal rates include 14% VAT. 

• Standard/classic: 149€ for single occupancy and 169€ for double occupancy
• Superior: 169€ for single occupancy and 189€ for double occupancy
• Other room types are available as below upon request.
• Superior Plus: 189€ for single / 209€ for double
• Junior Suite: 299€ for single / 319€ for double
• Rates will be available three days prior and three days after the event dates, subject to availability of guest rooms at the time of reservation.
• Check-in time is 3 pm and check-out is noon. Early check-in or/and late check-out can be offered upon availability. Charges are as below:
• check-in between 10 am and 3 pm: 15€
• arrival before 10 am: 100% of the applicable room rate
• check-in after noon: subject to room availability without an additional charge
• check-out between 12 pm and 4 pm: 25€
• departure after 6.00 pm: 100% of the applicable room rate
• During the reservation process, individual guests will be asked to provide their credit card details for guarantee and individual guests are responsible for any cancellation fee in case of no show or late cancellation.
• The guests will be responsible for possible cancellation charges after 29 September 2024, no-show fees and early departure charges. An individual booking can be cancelled without charge 48h prior to arrival. After that, the late cancellation or no-show fees for the entire booking period will be charged to the guest's credit card.

The exclusive booking link (with the group code; BWMA151024) for the WMA group is available here​. Please book your room as early as possible and no later than 29 September 2024. After 29 September, the unreserved rooms will be released.

The blocked rooms have been released and the WMA group rates are not available any longer. For future bookings, please visit the hotel website​.

WMA Officers, Officials, Council members, and Additional Standing Committee members will be covered by the WMA for the designated nights, but all incidental charges (telephone, laundry, upgrades, extended nights, etc.) will be at their own costs.

IMPORTANT: ROOMS WILL BE RESERVED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

Climate

The weather in Finland can be very changeable in October. The average temperature​is 7°C but the temperature can be +10°C or -5°C, even snow can be on the ground. It is advisable to prepare with warm clothes for sleet and rain, not forgetting about rain clothes. There is about 10 hours of light per day in October.

Drinking water

Finland has the cleanest drinking water in the world. Drinking tap water is highly recommended to avoid plastic waste.

Currency

The currency is the euro. Credit and debit cards (Visa, Visa Debit, Visa Electron, Debit MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club) are widely accepted. Some shops and restaurants do not accept cash, only card or mobile payment.

Local time

The time in Finland (EEST) is UTC+3 in October. 

Electricity

The power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Shop opening hours in Finland

In Finland, most shops are open until 9 pm, some even 24/7. Design shops are also open on weekends, usually at least until 4 pm and in the evenings until 8 pm. Opening hours may vary.

Tipping

Tipping in Finland is not customary nor exactly expected. However, if you feel that you have received very good service, you can take this into account by leaving a tip.

A valid passport is needed to enter Finland,for visa information visit the following page: 

https://migri.fi/en/visiting-finland#:~:text=A%20visa%20is%20a%20permit,or%20an%20EU%20Member%20State​

• Tours and sightseeing in Helsinki​

• Restaurants in Helsinki​

• Museums:
• Ateneum​(Finnish National Gallery)
• Amox Rex​(Art Museum)
• Kiasma​(Museum of Contemporary Art)

• Other places worth to visit
• Oodi​(Helsinki Central Library and citizens' living room)
• Allas Sea Pool​(Try swimming in the warm outdoor pool or cold sea water right in the city centre)
• Parliament House​(This is where the 200-member Finnish Parliament meets. You can visit the Parliament House by booking a free guided tour. In addition, all plenary sessions of Parliament, the Citizens' Info Centre of the Little Parliament and the Library of Parliament (entrance C) are open to the public.)
• Music house​(Completed in 2011, the Helsinki Music Centre has a 360-degree performance space and excellent acoustics, as well as services such as a sheet music shop specialising in classical music, a restaurant and café. The concert hall has one of the largest modern concert organs in the world.)

• Where to visit outside Helsinki:
• Lapland​ : the northern-most region of Finland and an active outdoor destination that's known for its incredible, year-round light phenomena, vast arctic nature, and Santa Claus.
• Porvoo​ (50 minutes and 50 km from Helsinki city centre. One of the most photographed cities in Finland. Beautiful old town with interesting little boutiques and idyllic cafes. Also, one of Finland's most prestigious candy factories, Brumberg, is located in Porvoo, whose store is right at the "gate" of the Old Town.
• Nuuksio​ National park : Take a walk in pure nature, gather mushrooms or berries, enjoy picnics by the campfire or just listen to the silence. Nuuksio is only about 30 km from the centre of Helsinki. The nature experience is also accessible for people with reduced mobility (Haukkalampi, Kattila and Haltia areas.
• Suomenlinna​ Sea Fortress (The UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in front of Helsinki): For visitors from the 2000s, Suomenlinna is an easy travel destination that can be easily reached all year round by HSL ferry. Suomenlinna, one of Finland's most popular places to visit, attracts approximately one million visitors all year round.

Useful Links

For your travel guide please visit:

-      Your Official Finland Travel Guide | Visit Finland​

-      My Helsinki​