[Improving the editing of medical journals and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)].

Medical journal editing is a task with many facets. The role of the editors includes organizing and evaluating a peer-review system as a main tool for their decision making in selecting manuscripts to be published. The International Congress on Biomedical Peer Review and Global Communications was held in September, 1997, in Prague, Czech Republic, organized by JAMA, the BMJ and Project HOPE, and sponsored by several other organizations. A meeting of the World Association of Medical Editors took place during this Congress and its institutional objectives and membership were discussed and enlarged, based on the previous foundation Conference held in Bellagio, Italy, in March 1995. The main goals of this Association: "To facilitate worldwide cooperation and communication among editors of peer-reviewed medical journals; to improve editorial standards, to promote professionalism in medical editing through education, self-criticism and self-regulation; and to encourage research on the principles and practices of medical editing" were accomplished in a warm and friendly atmosphere, with over 300 participants from 46 countries and every continent. Revista Médica de Chile was represented in these meetings by its former and present Editors. An analysis of the meetings by the editorial team will lead to changes intended to improve the editorial process in our journal.