[A french-speaking institute for tropical medicine in Asia: the IFMT in Vientiane, Lao PDR].

Since the year-2000, a French-speaking Institute for Tropical Medicine (French acronym, IFMT) has been operating in Lao PDR through funding provided by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie. The IFMT is a postgraduate teaching centre dedicated to improving skills of health care professionals in clinical sciences, epidemiology, public health and management as well as to research and health care intervention. These activities are conducted in the capital as well as provinces and districts throughout Laos with special focus on priority health issues facing developing countries in tropical regions. The IFMT organizes a 4-semester international course taught in French to medical doctors from Southeast Asia, mainly Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Southern China, but also from other countries. To date, a total of 72 students have graduated from the IFMT. In 2005 the Institute delivers a master degree. This article describes the course objectives and some features of the curriculum. It also presents a general overview of health, teaching, and research facilities in Southeast Asia as well as of the major challenges now confronting the region.