A competent and committed health workforce plays a pivotal role in the efficient functioning of a health care system. Photo credit: WHO

Medical education is education related to the practice of being a medical practitioner. Gaining a basic medical degree may take from five to eight or even nine years, depending on jurisdiction and university. Medical doctors include generalists and specialists. Medical training completed by internship qualifies a medical doctor to become a physician or a surgeon.

The educational development and training programme of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean provides technical support to countries in the Region in strengthening national capacity and aligning the education of health workers with population health needs.