Conflict of Interest Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Conflict of Interest Policy is to safeguard the independence, impartiality, and objectivity of all certification activities conducted by Global Medical Trust (GMT).

As an independent international certification authority, GMT is committed to ensuring that certification decisions are made solely on the basis of documented evidence and compliance with established standards, free from commercial, financial, or personal influence.

2. Principle of Impartiality

GMT operates under the fundamental principle that certification activities must be:

• Independent
• Impartial
• Transparent
• Evidence-based

Certification decisions are rendered without undue influence from applicants, affiliated entities, commercial partners, or external stakeholders.

GMT does not offer consultancy services to applicant institutions related to achieving certification standards.

3. Organizational Independence

GMT maintains structural safeguards to preserve institutional independence, including:

• Separation between evaluation and administrative functions
• Prohibition of financial incentives tied to certification outcomes
• Independent review mechanisms for certification decisions
• Documented governance oversight procedures

Certification fees are not contingent upon certification approval.

4. Disclosure of Interests

All individuals involved in certification activities, including:

• Evaluation Committee members
• External reviewers
• Technical advisors
• Governance oversight participants

must formally disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest prior to participating in evaluation processes.

Conflicts may include:

• Financial interests in applicant institutions
• Employment or consultancy relationships
• Family or close personal relationships
• Advisory roles within applying organizations

5. Recusal Procedures

Where a conflict of interest is identified, the affected individual shall be:

• Immediately recused from participation in the evaluation
• Excluded from review discussions
• Excluded from certification decision voting

Recusal actions shall be documented as part of the certification record.

6. Prohibition of Undue Influence

GMT prohibits:

• Acceptance of gifts, incentives, or financial benefits from applicant institutions
• Any form of compensation linked to certification outcomes
• Pressure exerted by applicants to influence certification decisions

Any attempt to improperly influence evaluation outcomes may result in immediate termination of the certification process.

7. Committee Oversight

Certification decisions are subject to structured review processes designed to minimize individual bias and ensure balanced evaluation.

Where appropriate, multi-member review panels are utilized to enhance impartiality.

GMT maintains documented oversight mechanisms to monitor adherence to impartiality principles.

8. External Relationships

GMT does not enter into partnerships, referral agreements, or commercial arrangements that could compromise its objectivity in certification activities.

Participation in conferences, educational events, or professional forums does not constitute endorsement or preferential treatment of any entity.

9. Reporting Conflicts

Concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest may be submitted confidentially to:

legal@globalmedicaltrust.org

GMT will review all reports in accordance with established governance procedures.

10. Enforcement

Failure to disclose a material conflict of interest may result in:

• Removal from evaluation activities
• Suspension of committee participation
• Internal review procedures

GMT reserves the right to take corrective action to protect the integrity of its certification process.

11. Continuous Review

This policy is subject to periodic review to ensure alignment with international best practices in certification governance and impartiality.

Amendments may be issued as necessary to maintain institutional integrity.