RCOG International Representative Committees (IRCs) support the global work of the RCOG by developing a strong local network in country for RCOG Fellows, Members and Associates.
IRCs consist of international College members resident and working in the country of the IRC, who wish to support development of women’s health care in that region. Each IRC has three Fellow Representatives and three Member Representatives who are elected for a three-year term. The Chair is appointed through an open recruitment process for a three-year term.
The RCOG currently has 26 IRCs in the following countries:
- Asia Pacific: Malaysia, Singapore
- Europe: Hellenic, Malta
- Middle East & North Africa: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe
- South Asia: AICC (All India Co-ordinating Committee); AICC East Zone; AICC North Zone; AICC South Zone; AICC West Zone, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
IRC terms of reference
- To support the global work of the RCOG by developing a strong local network in country for RCOG Fellows, Members and Associates.
- To represent the College in their country and act as the liaison between members in their country and the College, by seeking their views and ensuring that the Committee represents all members’ professional and clinical interests.
- To promote RCOG membership and all the RCOG has to offer to doctors and healthcare workers in country and to encourage and support postgraduate training and education in the specialty.
- To carry out activities to support and improve the specific women’s health issues in their country.
- To work together with the International Council Representatives and UK-based RCOG Liaison Groups on joint initiatives to support Fellows and Members in country and extend the reach of the College.
- To assist in setting up and facilitating RCOG Officer and staff meetings with local Health Ministries and authorities as requested by the RCOG.
- To provide assistance in the review of elevation to Fellowship application forms and use local knowledge to provide feedback on each of the applicants.
- To act as champions for the RCOG MTI Scheme including promoting and raising the profile of the scheme within their respective countries to IMG’s and directing queries to the RCOG MTI Office. To undertake IRC Chair interviews of shortlisted MTI trainees.
- To organise at least one annual local RCOG/IRC meeting or conference (where local IRC resources allow).
- To provide, where available, accurate annual local figures of women’s health indicators such as caesarean section rates, maternal and perinatal mortality.