WFME came into existence in September 1972 at a meeting in Copenhagen, when its Constitution was signed by representatives of the Regional Associations for Medical Education, by the representative of the Director-General of the World Health Organization, by the President of the World Medical Association, and other witnesses.

The Constitution was drawn up by a WFME Planning Group which met in Mainz in April 1972 with the support of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. The concept of WFME originated much earlier, at a meeting of medical educators in New Delhi in 1966.

The Constitution was revised in 1988, and further amended in September 1994.

WFME Constitution