A new ILDS–WHO online platform aims to improve frontline diagnosis and care of skin disease worldwide.
The International League of Dermatological Societies has launched a global online training platform in collaboration with the World Health Organization, aiming to strengthen frontline clinicians’ ability to diagnose and manage skin disease, one of the world’s most common yet under-recognised health burdens.
The ILDS Dermatology Training Hub provides free online courses designed for healthcare workers across primary care and resource-limited settings, delivering practical, expert-led training on the prevention, identification and management of common skin conditions and neglected tropical diseases.
Skin diseases are among the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, affecting more than four billion people.
Despite this, dermatological conditions are often overlooked in health policy and funding decisions.
Access to specialist care remains highly uneven, with fewer than one dermatologist per million people in some regions, leaving many patients without appropriate diagnosis or treatment.
The new hub aims to address this gap by making regionally relevant dermatology education freely available online.
It builds on existing WHO resources that include more than 60 skin-related courses in English and 10 other languages. More than 70,000 learners are already enrolled globally in the WHO courses.
Dr Claire Fuller, chair of the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD), said expanding access to training was central to improving global skin health following the adoption of the 2025 World Health Assembly resolution recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority.
“Providing better training and education is essential to improving diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes,” she said.
“The ILDS Dermatology Training Hub will play an important role in equipping frontline health workers with key skills and up-to-date clinical knowledge.
“In doing so, it will help build health system capacity and support better patient care globally.”
Professor Daudi R Mavura, principal of the IFD-supported Regional Dermatology Training Centre in Moshi, Tanzania, said the platform would help strengthen workforce capability in regions with limited access to specialist training.
“By providing the latest clinical content free of charge and enabling health workers to access it at a time that suits them, the ILDS Dermatology Training Hub is a valuable new tool to build the skills of the global healthcare workforce in tackling skin diseases,” he said.
Dr José Antonio Ruiz Postigo, medical officer with the WHO’s Skin Diseases: Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Care Unit, said the initiative responded directly to the World Health Assembly resolution calling for stronger community-based education on skin disease management.
“With the launch of the ILDS Dermatology Training Hub, the ILDS and the WHO are jointly responding to this call,” he said.
ILDS president Professor Henry W Lim also welcomed the launch of the project.
“The launch of the ILDS Dermatology Training Hub supports our mission to improve global skin health through education, training and knowledge sharing,” he said.
“As a holder of ‘official relations’ with the WHO, we were delighted to work with them on this exciting project.”
“We’re grateful to our partners – the IFD, GLODERM, IACS and more than 100 disease experts in the WHO network who have contributed courses and content for this important new resource.”
For more about the ILDS Skin Health Training Hub, see here.
