PubMed1994
The Polish Medical Association, founded in 1944 in London and celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 1944, is a unique organisation of doctors brought together by the shared experience of serving in the Polish armed forces on the fronts of the II World War. Preparing themselves for the return to a free Poland and later facing the realities of the emigré existence, they formed an association based on an identity with patriotic ideals and espousing a loyalty to the national cause, solidarity with the aspirations and goals of the expatriate community and commitment to the integrity in the performance of their professional duties. It was created against a background of the already existing Polish Medical Faculty at the University of Edinburgh and supported by strong lobbying on the part of the Polish Government and the favourable political climate. The need for a professional body of Polish doctors became evident. During the first few years the Association, originally called the Polish Medical Association in the British Empire, numbered over 700 doctors and achieved notable succeses for its members. The most significant were the endeavours which contributed to the inclusion of the so-called Clause 5 of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947, which in practice allowed Polish doctors serving in the Polish forces under British command to obtain full medical registration. Almost 800 doctors benefitted from this legislature and by coincidence, with the introduction of the National Health Service, they constituted the single most significant injection of non-British doctors into the British health care system. Throughout the years the Association, which originally comprised doctors with an Army background acquired more and more civilian members. The second generation followed, smaller waves of post-war emigration brought in new members from Poland. With time the administrative structure of the Association--initially comprising ten divisions in the UK and overseas--has changed; the second generation--those already born and educated in the UK--joined the professional ranks, and later achieved the highest positions. The return of democracy to Poland, so eagerly awaited, has brought a new dimension to the Association's activities. Its original character, however--identity with the national ideals of dignity, honour, integrity--naturally, remains unchanged and deeply ingrained in the collective and individual consciousness of this unique group. The Association maintains active contacts with Poland's leading medical institutions and academic establishments and is the initiator of the ideal of integrated effort of the Polish emigré medical milieu and medicine in Poland--the ultimate goal is the long-term commitment to the health of the Polish nation.