Directories or listings of medical schools are important. They provide essential information for the creation and implementation of policy in medical education.

It is important to have:

• Descriptive information: what is the name of each medical school, where is it, how can it be contacted, how long is the course of instruction, what language is used; and so on
• Information on quality: is the school accredited, is it recognised by the national government, how is it licensed?
• Information on process: governance of the school, management of admissions, qualifications of the staff, and the like

The World Health Organisation World Directory of Medical Schools was first published in by WHO in 1953, the latest edition appearing in 2000. WFME is involved in its successors, the Avicenna Directory, and the new World Directory of Medical Schools.