THE National Medical Alliance has affiliated to the South African Medical Association after nearly five years of negotiations, SAMA announced on Tuesday. The NMA, representing the SA Medical and Dental Practitioners, Society of Dispensing Family Practitioners, Family Practioners’ Association, Dispensing Family Practitioners Association, and the Eastern Cape Medical Guild, took up seats on SAMA’s board of directors on April 30. SAMA was formed in June last year after the disbandment of the Medical Association of SA and the Progressive Doctors Group. Due to differences over constitutional and transformation issues, the NMA did not join at that time.