FIGO's evolution and structure: An insider's perspective from former FIGO President John Sciarra

‘I’m proud of FIGO’s role in addressing maternal mortality and hope to see continued progress, including more collaboration with national societies and renewed efforts in global women’s health reporting.’ - Professor John J. Sciarra

As FIGO president from 1991 to 1994 and editor of the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (IJGO) from 1985 to 2006, John Sciarra's dedication and work has left an indelible mark on FIGO. 

In this exclusive interview, Sciarra explores the evolution of FIGO's structure during the 1990s, its growth beyond hosting congresses and his aspirations to integrate more societies into the FIGO community. 

Tell us about your involvement with FIGO throughout the years 

When I became president in 1991, FIGO had two offices: administrative in London and financial in Switzerland. Originally founded in Switzerland in 1954, one of my key tasks was to centralise operations in London. We closed the Swiss office, consolidated finances in London, and switched the currency from Swiss francs to British pounds, streamlining all FIGO operations in London.

At the time, FIGO’s only source of income was from member societies, making it hard to maintain office structure. However, in the year 2000, FIGO held its first World Congress in Washington DC, managed centrally by FIGO rather than by the bidding national society, and the event generated a substantial amount of money. This financial boost enabled FIGO to expand its projects and enhance its office operations. 

Similarly, from 1985 till 2000, IJGO was initially run from my office in Chicago. In 2000, to streamline activities, we moved the journal's office to London. Initially, the journal generated minimal income but the transition to electronic publication from typewriters was transformative. Computerisation facilitated a significant increase in the number of abstracts and paper submissions, which could then be handled much more efficiently. 

What led you to volunteer/collaborate/partner with FIGO initially? 

My mentor, Professor Howard Taylor, was the President of FIGO in 1961. So, I was involved with FIGO through him, during the many years he was based in Chicago. Then, in 1985, I became the editor of IJGO, which really helped me become involved with FIGO on a regular basis. 

What FIGO achievement are you most proud of? 

When FIGO began to run their own meetings and generate income, it allowed us to expand and to take on projects, as well as just running the organisation. The World Congress became a social event, people looked forward to getting together for several days and sharing their ideas and thoughts. Since attending my first FIGO Congress in Vienna in 1961, I have attended virtually every Congress since then. I am immensely proud of how far FIGO congresses have come. 

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges to overcome in our journey to improve the health and rights of women girls and newborns worldwide?    

Over the past century, one of the most significant challenges we've faced and continue to grapple with today, is maternal mortality. When I became FIGO President in 1990, there were around 600,000 maternal deaths occurring every year, with a staggering 95% of those occurring in low-resource areas. While reproductive health presented numerous hurdles, maternal mortality stood out as one of the gravest concerns. Throughout my tenure at FIGO, we dedicated substantial efforts to tackling this critical issue over many years. 

What would you like to see from FIGO in the next 30 years?  

It's hard to predict the future but I think the direction that FIGO is heading in is terrific. In other words, FIGO now has over 130 member societies in comparison to less than a hundred when I joined. FIGO is recognised internationally as the voice for women and reproductive health, and I would like to see this progress continue.  

I would also like to see: 

  •  A world report on women's health published by FIGO. This used to be done regularly 30 years ago and was a useful resource, it gave the press the opportunity to meet with FIGO and talk about international problems.  
  • FIGO make a real effort to incorporate all national societies to be members of FIGO and help the present member societies improve their function.  
  • An updated version of the book on the history of FIGO, which was published in 2004 to mark FIGO’s 50th anniversary. It would be nice to update it because so much has happened in the past 20 years and it should be recorded to give those who are interested an opportunity to review it.