Functions of the Board

• To establish an independent Board for each specialty beginning with the major branches in order to establish the requirements for each individual training program

• To establish a certification procedure for each specialty

• To organize teaching and training sessions for the specializing doctors in conjunction with teaching institutions in the Arab World

• To promote continuous medical education and professional development

• To promote the use of the Arabic language in medical education

The Organization of the Board

The Board is composed of the Supreme Council, the Executive Office, individual Scientific Councils, the Joint Consultative Scientific Council, and the General Secretariat.

• The Supreme Council is composed of:  six ministers of health of whom at least two thirds are medical doctors, three of the Arab Ministers who are responsible for higher education, three medical doctors from each participating Arab country, 1 of whom represents the Ministry of Health and 2 of whom represent teaching institutions, the Regional Director of the WHO Office of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Secretary General of the Federation of Arab Doctors.

• The Executive Office is composed of the following nine members:  the President of the Supreme Council, the Vice President of the Supreme Council, the Treasurer of the Supreme Council, and six members elected to the Supreme Council of whom 5 must represent medical schools.

• The Scientific Councils are established independently for each separate medical specialty.  Each Council has one representative from the Ministry of Health and one doctor from each medical school, up to a total of four from any one country.  In order to be represented, the medical school must have been in existence for at least five years and have graduated at least one class of doctors.  Each council has authority for its own technical and scientific affairs.  The Councils establish committees for dealing with curriculum, training, and examinations.

• The Joint Consultative Scientific Council consists of the chiefs of the individual Scientific Councils, and its function is to coordinate the activities of the various Councils.

• The Secretariat General is permanently located in Damascus, Syria and facilitates all of the technical, official, and financial affairs of the Board.