Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: Continuing Medical Education: an international realityEuropean CME systems: an overview Continuing medical education (CME) is certainly a tool to improve knowledge and hopefully performance, but CME systems in European Union (EU) member-states and future members are very different.In some countries, CME is essentially an ethical and moral obligation whereas in others there is a semimandatory system meaning that CME is not a legal obligation but is required by the profession, insurance or other bodies involved in health care.In countries such as Belgium and Norway, for example, updating knowledge translates into salary increases.In a growing number of countries such as the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Hungary and Italy, CME is mandatory.Also the actual regulatory body can also be different; for some it is represented by the government, in others by professional bodies, Universities or Scientific Societies, examples being the Instituto de Formation Medica Colegial in Spain, Royal Colleges in the UK, the Ordinos dos Medicos in Portugal and the Lander in Germany.Italy deserves a special mention.Since April 2002, a mandatory CME system was deliberated.It is regulated by a Government body that accredits, supported by scientific referees, CME activities.Twenty credits in 2003 must have been achieved with the number increasing to 50 in 2006.The Italian system is unique because it does not only involve doctors but also all the professions related to health care (e.g.nurses, pharmacists, biologists, etc.) (1).That is nearly 800 000 people.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1040901165