World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) is a non-government organization that oversees and is responsible for the education and training of medical doctors worldwide. WFME develops standards of medical education and promotes accreditation of medical schools globally, aiming to enhance the quality of medical education and promote the highest scientific and ethical standards in this field.
WFME works in partnership with several international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Medical Association (WMA) with WFME’s associate members, and with medical schools worldwide. Together with FAIMER, WFME co-manages the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and the Recognition of Accreditation. WDOMS is a public database listing all the medical schools worldwide.
Medical institutions worldwide that meet the agreed standard for recognition and accreditation are awarded by the WFME.
India is all set to become a popular destination for quality medical education and standard healthcare practices globally. With renowned educational institutions setting benchmarks, international students seek admission opportunities to learn from India’s esteemed establishments. Meanwhile, Indian students will benefit from the establishment of the new medical institutes adhering to the standards set by NMC. Some of the frequently asked questions regarding WFME accreditation are mentioned below for better understanding:
1. What does WFME stand for?
World Federation for Medical Education.
2. What is the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) accreditation?
The World Federation for Medical Education is a coveted international organization, dedicated to ensuring the quality of medical education across the globe. World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) is a non-governmental organization concerned with the education and training of medical doctors worldwide. WFME’s main objective is to “enhance the quality of medical education worldwide, with the promotion of the highest scientific and ethical standards in medical education”. The organization develops standards for medical education and promotes accreditation of medical schools. The WFME Recognition Program evaluates agencies against internationally accepted criteria for accreditation.
3. Does the WFME accredit medical schools?
No, WFME does not supply an accreditation process for medical schools. The WFME Recognition agenda grants Recognition Status to individual accrediting agencies normally operating within a specific country that have been evaluated as meeting WFME recognition criteria.
4. What is the purpose of the WFME Recognition Program?
The purpose of the WFME Recognition Program is to provide a transparent and rigorous framework for ensuring that the accreditation of medical schools worldwide adheres to internationally accepted and high standards. By evaluating accreditation agencies, WFME assures the standard of accreditation of medical schools. It provides a system to review and recognize existing accreditation systems based on a transparent process and with public announcement of the results of the Assessments.
5. What type of accrediting agencies are eligible for WFME recognition?
The following types of agencies are eligible to apply for WFME recognition:
- A Government or inter-governmental entity, or
- An independent professional body that is authorized or recognized by the relevant national or state/provincial government (Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education or both), or the legislator (parliament), or
- An independent professional body that is authorized or recognized by a professional or scientific association with the appropriate authority.
6. NMC has been accredited by WFME, does it imply that all students passing out from medical colleges recognized by NMC can practice in any country of the world accredited by WFME?
No. To practice in any other country, the individuals must meet the registration requirements of the respective country to practice medicine there.
7. What are the specific benefits to Indian medical students because of NMC getting WFME accreditation?
As per new norms, from 2024 onwards, individuals applying for ECFMG (Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certification and USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) must be a graduate of a medical school that is officially recognized by an agency accredited by WFME. With NMC’s accreditation by WFME, students from medical colleges recognized by NMC will now be eligible to apply for ECFMG certification and USMLE.
8. What is USMLE and ECFMG?
USMLE: USMLE is the acronym for the United States Medical Licensing
Examination (USMLE). This test is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical
Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The
USMLE is a three-step examination that you must take if your goal is to earn a
license to practice medicine in the USA.
ECFMG: According to the US Department of Education, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates is “the authorized credential evaluation and guidance agency for non-U.S. physicians and graduates of non-U.S. medical schools who seek to practice in the United States or apply for a U.S. medical residency program. To be eligible for ECFMG certification following requirements should be met:
- Completion of medical graduation from a medical school recognized by a WFME accredited body.
- Successful completion of USMLE step one and step two.
- ECFMG pathways as applicable and provided on the ECFMG website www.ecfmg.org
9. As a medical college/institute, whether my college would be inspected by a team of WFME? If yes, will it be a surprise inspection or informed inspection?
No, only during the WFME site visit some of the medical colleges may be visited by WFME with prior notice. These visits are informed visits, meaning that colleges are aware of the visit in advance.
10. What shall be the additional obligations of the medical college for the WFME site visit?
There are no additional obligations of medical colleges during the WFME site visit. The medical colleges are required to remain compliant with NMC minimum standard requirements, NMC curriculum and various notifications issued by NMC from time to time. Any additional requirements to be fulfilled by the medical colleges as stipulated by WFME shall be intimated to the concerned medical college in advance.
11. Will WFME accreditation, impact the curriculum/teaching methods of my college/institute? If yes, what would be the changes?
The medical colleges are required to follow the NMC’s CBME curriculum which has been endorsed by WFME. There is a provision in the NMC curriculum to cater to local and regional requirements.
