Archived: World Medical Association Statement on Medical Manpower – III

Adopted by the 37th World Medical Assembly Brussels, Belgium, October 1985,
amended by the 38th World Medical Assembly,Rancho Mirage, CA, USA, October 1986
and rescinded at the WMA General Assembly, Santiago 2005

Those concerned with directing medical education programs in each country should communicate to their medical students the importance of obtaining actual experience in the practice of medicine in order to achieve basic medical competence, and the necessity for continuous experience to maintain such competence. Medical students should also be advised that the application of a medical education to alternative employment is extremely limited.

When it is doubtful that the medical student will have an opportunity to acquire the necessary experience to achieve basic medical competency, the medical student should be urged to reconsider the value of a medical education.