World Directory of Medical Schools

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The World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS) 2000 Edition pdf is a publication of the World Health Organization (WHO) which lists all medical schools which have been recognized and granted a charter by their host countries. A listing in the WDMS does not provide any information regarding the quality of education at a medical school, nor does it imply any quality assurance by either the WHO or the host country. The seventh and most recent edition of this directory was published in 2000.

The WHO announced in January 2007 that the print version of the World Directory of Medical Schools will be converted into an online database. The WHO will work with the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, to create a Global Database of Health Professions Educational Institutions. In addition to medical schools, this new database with include other academic health institutions (schools of dentistry, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, public health, and rehabilitation specialist).

As with the print version, the new database will contain relevant information about each school including accreditation, student population, date of establishment, etc. The University of Copenhagen will run it in collaboration with WHO, the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), International Pharmaceutical Federation and other partners.

Work on the database was scheduled to start in 2007 and the WHO promises to post a link to the database on their website.