HISTORY AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD ENDOSCOPY ORGANIZATION

Abstract

The predecessor of the World Endoscopy Organization (WEO) was the International Society of Endoscopy (ISE), which was founded in 1966. At the 3^rd ISE Congress in 1974, its official name was changed to the Organisation Mondiale dʼEndoscopie Digestive (OMED). In 2010, OMED was renamed WEO, which remains to this day. The International WEO Congress has been held since 2017. The first World Congress of Endoscopy was held in India (ENDO 2017), the second in Brazil (ENDO 2020), and the third in Kyoto, Japan (ENDO 2022). The fourth event (ENDO 2024) will take place in Seoul, South Korea. The goal and mission of the WEO are to provide safe, high-quality endoscopic medicine worldwide through endoscopic education and training activities and to promote international academic and research activities through its global network. The WEO has been involved in educational activities in developing countries in Southeast Asia and South America and has recently become actively involved in education and training activities in African countries. It has established training centers tailored to the local needs of African countries and plans to conduct training courses in partnership with base hospitals in India.