AWMF

AWMF, the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany, is a non-profit umbrella organization that unites Germany’s medical scientific societies to promote evidence-based medicine and the standardization of clinical guidelines. The association coordinates the development, quality assurance, and dissemination of guidelines across medical specialties and healthcare settings. Guidelines are produced by member societies or their working groups under AWMF methodological standards, with explicit documentation of evidence, expert consensus, and planned updates.

German guidelines are commonly graded in a system that includes S1 (consensus-based, informal), and the more structured S2 and S3 levels, with S3 representing the highest standard that combines systematic evidence with formal consensus. This grading helps users assess methodological rigor and applicability to practice.

AWMF operates Leitlinien.de, the central Guideline Portal, which serves as a repository for active and historical guidelines issued by member societies. The portal provides access to full texts or summaries, methodological notes, update notices, and links to issuing organizations, facilitating access for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. The organization also focuses on the implementation and dissemination of recommendations to improve patient care, patient safety, and health-system decision-making.

Governance and funding are centered on participation by member medical societies, with support from project funds and public-health collaborators. Through its coordination of guideline development and its central database, AWMF plays a key role in shaping evidence-based practice and standardization within the German healthcare landscape.