This report presents the results of three years of work of a newcomer to the WPA in the position of Secretary for Finances, supported by a Finance Committee whose members were R. Astill, R. Cancro, M. Kastrup, O. Ray and K. Yamazaki.
When the Finance Committee started its work, it was clear there were only two months of functioning funds left in the bank. We had to establish two different kinds of action: a) an emergency plan in order to survive; b) a financial policy in order to ensure a long-term solid financial base.
The facts we had to translate into action were: a) to retrieve money from previous congresses (in particular, the 11th World Congress); b) to start negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry in order to create a Corporate Supporters Programme (this programme guarantees the pharmaceutical companies their participation in the next World and International Congresses, by paying their financial contribution three years in advance, and allows the WPA to have resources available between the congresses); c) to accommodate expenses according to income; d) to create a reserve corresponding to one year expenses; e) to participate in the preparation of all contracts and congress budgets negotiated by the WPA and its components in order to offer expertise and advice to reduce superfluous expenses. Once the WPA Executive Committee had agreed on these main points, we were able to move on.
Our income has increased from 501,624 US$ in 2002 to 804,356 US$ in 2003, 1,154,497 US$ in 2004 and 921,700 in 2005 (predicted). Our expenses have remained stable from 2002 to 2004 (456,063 US$ in 2002, 459,416 US$ in 2003, 479,856 US$ in 2004) and only increased in 2005 (811,000 US$), when we had to allocate some funds for the opening of the permanent secretariat in Geneva and the actual transfer of our office from New York to Geneva. Moreover, we have created a reserve corresponding to one year expenses.
Looking into the details of the sources of income, retrieving money from the previous World Congresses was of great importance (income of 288,124 US$ in 2003 and 503,500 US$ in 2005). Equally important was the success of the Florence International Congress (income of 504,412 US$). The Corporate Supporters Programme generated an income of 230,000 US$ in 2003, 220,000 US$ in 2004 and 220,000 US$ in 2005.
Concerning the expenses, we have neither increased the expenses for the Executive Committee, nor our office expenses except for the transfer to Geneva. We could allocate some funds for the training of professionals after the Tsunami disaster, and offer increased financial support for research to zone representatives and Sections' chairpersons.
Unfortunately, we do not have any educational programmes in sight which would generate income; therefore, our resources will decrease accordingly during the next two years compared to the previous period.
Although we feel somewhat relieved, we are still concerned and we do not yet see: a) how to lead the WPA into having its own independent financial system; b) how to secure our own resources, in order to be independent from external funding (specifically, support by the pharmaceutical industry, which is starting to be limited due to guidelines and ethical considerations); c) how to find different solutions to grant support to our WPA Member Societies and officers to provide bigger and better opportunities for research and training programmes. These are the main goals which we will focus on over the next three years.