In 1948, after the Second World War, the Student International Clinical Conference (SICC) was organized in the United Kingdom by the International Union of Students (IUS). Although Dutch medical students from the IUS had promised to organize the next conference, it did not take place. The reason was the withdrawal of Western students from the IUS due to political conflicts, and as a result, the event was not held the following year. Nevertheless, the idea of establishing a non-political international federation of medical students was born. In December 1950, the possibility of creating an international federation of medical students was discussed in Paris, and the World Health Organization (WHO) pledged financial support. From May 26 to 28, 1951, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) was founded in Copenhagen by representatives of eight countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The primary objective of IFMSA was defined as supporting and promoting collaboration among medical students in the professional field. The organization grew and evolved over the years. Today, IFMSA includes 140 National Member Organizations from 130 countries.

Objectives and Duties of IFMSA • To serve as a platform where medical students around the world can discuss topics related to health, education, and medicine, and to take action based on these discussions; • To promote humanism and medical ethics among medical students; • To establish connections between medical students and international organizations and to facilitate their collaboration for the benefit of society; • To serve both society and medical students on a global scale; • To provide students with the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of the community; • To organize meetings where medical students worldwide can engage in individual and collective discussions on health, education, and scientific topics, and to enable the implementation of these discussions; • To increase the cultural and health-related sensitivity of medical students by expanding professional and scientific exchange programs. ⸻ AzerMDS and IFMSA IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations) is an independent, non-governmental, and non-political federation of medical student associations from around the world. It currently has 140 National Member Organizations from 130 countries, representing nearly 1.4 million medical students globally. AzerMDS functioned as a candidate member of IFMSA during 2005–2006 and became a full member in 2007. For over a decade, Azerbaijani medical students have been part of the international medical student movement that began in 1951. In addition to many opportunities, IFMSA organizes thousands of scientific and professional exchange programs each year for medical students worldwide. Since 2007, more than 600 medical students have participated in various IFMSA exchange programs through AzerMDS. Currently, AzerMDS hosts six permanent committees within the structure of IFMSA: 1. Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE) 2. Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE) 3. Standing Committee on Medical Education (SCOME) 4. Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS (SCORA) 5. Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) 6. Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP)