WORLD HEAL TH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Fifty-seventh session Auckland, New Zealand 18-22 September 2006 Agenda item 14
WPRlRC57/NGO/8 21 September 2006 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR TOSHIMASA YOSmOKA REPRESENTATIVE, THE WORLD FEDERATION OF MEDICAL EDUCATION (WFME) Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates:
My name is Toshimasa Yoshioka, the president of the Association for Medical Education in the Western Pacific Region, AMEWPR, and the executive council of AMEWPR's umbrella NGO, the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME).
Thank you Mr Chairperson for providing an opportunity to present redent activities ofWFME and AMEWPR.
WFME was established to pursuit the highest scientific and ethical standards in medical doctors' education. The current president of the organization is Dr Hans Karl and the central office is located at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2003, the WFME set a global standard for Basic Medical Education, Postgraduate Medical education and Continuing Professional Development of Medical Doctors. In 2004, WHO and WFME established a strategic partnership to improve medical education.
AMEWPR, the Association of Medical Education in the Western Pacific Region was established to pursuit the quality of medical education in the Western Pacific Region and to provide a forum for exchange of information under the direction of WFME. At this juncture, 14 countries are sending representatives to the association, and a total of371 medical schools exist in these countries. AMEWPR has focused in recent years on quality assurance of basic medical education and has been active in promoting accreditation using WFME Guidelines and Standards in this region. The board meeting is the platform to discuss the application of global standards to each country with different education and licensing systems, and culture. The Japanese Society of Medical Education and the Japan Foundation of Medical Education are supporting us in organizing the conference.
WPRfRC57INGO/8 page 2
Educating medical doctors is a costly procedure. Sharing the knowledge of education among the countries and assuring quality of education among countries of the region will improve the quality of health care of the region. Mr Chairperson, continuing relationship between WHO and WFME, WHOWPR and AMEWPR should be maintained, because the medical education should address the issues of health care that are common in the region.
Thank you for your attention.