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International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP)

Formed in 1979, the International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) is a body of medical scientists and of leading experts in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Reversing STI Trends

The Role of Integrated SRHR Service Delivery

Read the blog on reversing STI trends
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What is IMAP?

  • Formed in 1979, the International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) is a body of medical scientists and of leading experts in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
  • IMAP has the mandate to formulate and disseminate recommendations to IPPF and other interested parties regarding best practices in SRHR, based on the best available evidence. This advice is also widely followed by other organizations in the SRHR field.
  • IMAP’s recommendations are presented as IMAP Bulletins which address issues on all aspects of SRHR including health systems, biomedical, programmatic, training and service delivery issues.
  • IMAP provides timely guidance to IPPF on critical issues and reviews and endorses IPPF’s programmatic and medical guidelines.
  • According to an independent evaluation carried out in 2014, IMAP is highly valued across the Federation and by external partners who acknowledge the continued need for an independent body of programmatic and biomedical experts.
  • IMAP contributes to maintaining IPPF’s leadership role in SRHR. Find out more about the panel members

 

What is IMAP’s role?

IMAP provides medical and technical advice to IPPF.  In summary, IMAP’s role is to:

  1. Review and endorse IPPF medical standards and guidelines;
  2. Identify and respond to priority SRHR issues;
  3. Monitor and consolidate new scientific evidence and develop statements;
  4. Address questions from IPPF member associations and other key stakeholders;
  5. Support IPPF to identify specialist expertise;
  6. Act as international communicators of IMAP’s recommendations; &
  7. Participate in meetings, including at least one face-to-face meeting each year.

 

IPPF IMAP Statements

IPPF IMAP Statements are produced by IPPF to address gaps in bio-medical evidence or critical issues relating SRHR programming.  IMAP supports this work by helping to identify questions to address; recommending technical experts to support the Bulletin development; and peer reviewing and endorsing the bulletin.  

Meet the IMAP Members

Check out IPPF's Clinical Guidance

 

IMAP Statements

IMAP Statement - Mpox

19 August 2024
Sudan refugee crisis
This statement was developed by the International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) in September 2022 and updated in August 2024.

IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention

biomedical-hiv-prevention
This statement is intended to update Member Associations on biomedical HIV prevention technologies and support their integration of new biomedical HIV prevention services into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service delivery.

IMAP Statement on Monkeypox

A man, who you cannot see his face is receiving a vaccination by a healthcare professional wearing medical gloves.
This IMAP statement aims to support Member Associations to ensure they are prepared with the latest messages and information on Monkeypox, including prevention, treatment and stigma.

IMAP Statement on DHI for SRHR

The image shows two people in red t-shirts both holding a mobile phone.
Evidence shows that Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) can increase awareness of SRH information and services, facilitate access to in-person and virtual services, and support various self-care practices.

IMAP in the news

Read our blog on reversing STI trends

Despite the deployment of interventions for the prevention, treatment, and management of STIs including HIV at global and regional levels, as well as the introduction of biomedical prevention technologies such as vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, the situation remains bleak. In 2020, global data indicated an estimated 374 million new STI cases per year, with 26% of the new cases coming from Africa.