The Buchanan Medal is awarded by the Royal Society "in recognition of distinguished contribution to the medical sciences generally". The award was created in 1897 from a fund to the memory of London physician Sir George Buchanan (1831–1895). It was to be awarded once every five years, but since 1990 the medal has been awarded every two years.

Sir George Buchanan, FRS was an English physician, epidemiologist and civil servant. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, president of the Epidemiological Society of London (1881–1883), and Chief Medical Officer of the United Kingdom (1879–1892).