[The historical evolution of regulation XVIII in the Italian medical curriculum]

In 1932 Bindo de Vecchi published a paper in Florence in which he underlined the need for a change in the teaching of medicine in Italy, in view of the continuous progress taking place in the health field. He recommended a constant social and preventive monitoring in medicine, and suggested a better distribution in the time and number of lessons, tests during degree courses and greater attention towards the practical aspects of medical studies. In 1933 the State examination was established, and in 1938 Regulation XVIII of the Italian Medical curriculum was approved. The first relevant revision of Regulation XVIII took place in 1986; it introduced a brief description of the formative objectives in the different areas of medical teaching, doubling the number of examinations and abolishing complementary courses. In 1996 a new version of Regulation XVIII appeared, including for the first time the so-called University Formative Credits. In 2000 a Ministerial Decree concerning Specialistic Degree Courses introduced the new Class constituted by the Specialistic Curriculum in Medicine and Surgery.