Renewal of medical licences to require compulsory CME Hours from 2007

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Ghafoor, Assistant Undersecretary for Curative Medicine, Ministry of Health, adds, �the continuing education of healthcare practitioners helps ensure that doctors are kept up-to-date with advances in treatment methods and this benefit is ultimately translated into better standards of patient care. As in the majority of countries across the world, the renewal of the physicians, nurses and technicians medical license in the UAE will now be dependant on the completion of a minimum number of CME hours. We are confident that this initiative will be of benefit to the medical community and the general public.�h

Dr. Abdulrazak Abyad, CME Team Leader, Health and Policy Regulation, General Authority for Health Services for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, comments, �gSince 2004, GAHS has required physicians and dentists to participate in Continuing Education programmes and effective from January 1st, 2007, this will be directly linked to the renewal of medical licences.

Dr. Mustafa Al Hashimi, Emirates Medical Association Board Member, comments, �gThe EMA is open to all physicians, pharmacists and dentists in the UAE either local or non local. An important objective of the association is to improve the doctors�Oe scientific performance through continuing medical education and to give suggestions in organizing the practice of medicine and medical rules.�h

In October 2006, the organisers of the Arab Health Congress announced that Medical professionals who visit the exhibition would be given a DvD with five hours of American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME) CME from a range of eight topics. Having watched the DvD, the user can complete the CME questions via the IIR online CME program at www.iircme.com. Once the medical professional has successfully completed the on-line CME, the AACME will provide a certificate confirming completion of the course.

Mr. Simon Page, Projects Director, Arab Health Exhibition, adds, �gAfter listening to the region�fs professionals we have come up with this new initiative that will guarantee that continuing medical education is freely available to all. The process is time friendly allowing professionals to choose the time and place to study.�h

Dr. Ahmed W. Swelam, Media and Exhibitions Group Director, Saudi German Hospitals Group, said, �gWe are delighted to support this new initiative from the organisers of Arab Health by sponsoring the educational DVD. Saudi German Hospitals Group will provide healthcare professionals with some of the hours needed for the renewal of their medical license.�h