Abstract
The World Organisation for Digestive Endoscopy (Organisation Mondiale d'Endoscopie Digestive), OMED, is a world federation of independent digestive endoscopy societies or independent endoscopy groups within gastroenterology societies of countries and some areas nationwide. Today, over 80 nations and areas in the world are affiliated as members of OMED . OMED was established as International Society of Endoscopy (ISE) in 1966, and the First Congress was held in Tokyo in the same year. In July of 1976, the name of the organization was changed to a more comprehensive name "The World Organisation for Digestive Endoscopy (Organisation Mondiale d'Endoscopie Digestive) ", OMED . The most important operation of OMED is to hold World Congress . OMED has held World Congress once in 4 years from the 2nd to the latest 11th congress . The author served as President of OMED from March 2002 to September 2005 . The policy and direction of OMED are specified in the statutes of the organization, and the activities are carried out by the several committees of OMED. The committees are consisted of standing committees and ad hoc committees that are set up as necessary . Details of the committee activities during the presidency term of the author are described . In 2003 and 2005, OMED Spring Meetings were held jointly with the International Gastric Cancer Association. Under the circumstance where the concept of early cancer was not fully acknowledged by other nations, Lambert of France cooperated with OMED to organize an international study meeting of definition, classification and types of Epitherial tumors in Paris . The results of this study meeting were published in the journal "Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ." After retirement as president, the author has taken part in these activities as the former president. Especially in the Asian countries, the author has cooperated with the Asian Pacific Society for Digestive Endoscopy to take part in the OMED activities . Described in this thesis are the situation of establishment and later growth of OMED, the activities during the author's presidency term and the future direction of activities in OMED .
