For more than 300 years, the Royal College of Physicians has remained independent of control by government, and its mission today lies close to the ideals of its founders to promote the highest standards in internal medicine not only in Edinburgh where it was founded and has developed, but wherever its Fellows, Collegiate members and Members practise. The College now has over 10,000 Fellows and Members and maintains strong links with many overseas countries, where more than half of them live and practise medicine. The College acts in an advisory capacity to government and other organisations on many aspects of health and welfare and medical education.