The Consortium of Medical Schools–Africa (COMS-A) emerged as a bold, continent-wide initiative on March 25, 2025, during the Advancing Medical Education in Africa Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Born from a shared urgency among African medical education leaders, COMS-A represents a unified, African-led response to the persistent and critical challenges facing medical education across the continent. Recognizing that collective action amplifies impact and that quality medical education is foundational to stronger healthcare systems, these leaders forged a powerful alliance. 

The fundamental purpose of COMS-A is to cultivate collaboration, streamline resource-sharing, and promote the exchange of best practices in medical education, research, community accountability, and healthcare delivery. This consortium is deeply committed to developing a socially accountable medical workforce, one that is well-equipped to effectively address the unique health challenges prevalent in African communities. COMS-A’s formation directly reflects the proactive stance of African medical education institutions, establishing a unified platform to elevate educational standards and improve health outcomes through a coordinated and strategic approach.The University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda serves as secretariat of COMS-A, providing a central point for its early operations..