Islamabad: In a recent public notice issued by PM&DC, the regulatory body has recalled earlier decision of submission of CME hours at the time of renewal instead and directed all medical and dental practitioners to submit an affidavit year wise CME hours until 31st December of every year. Further, the number of hours to be acquired by GPs and Specialist were revised.
The executive committee met on the 29th of May 2015 in Karachi to discuss the much talked CME topic following recent imposition of mandatory acquisition of accredited CME hours by medical and dental practitioners. The meeting recalled its decision to submit CME certificates instead and instructed to submit an affidavit along with renewal forms undertaking to submit CME hours on yearly basis from 1st January 2016.
The regulatory body also provided an amnesty for the medical and dental practitioners to have the practicing license renewed before 31st December 2015 without the submission of CME hours provided the affidavit of undertaking is attached.
The minimum number of CME hours which previous was 25 and 50 for GPs and specialists, has now been revised to 75 and 150 hours respectively. In the notification issued from the PM&DC website, the body further stated the GPs are to acquire CME hours in any field of interest, however specialists are required to take 50% of the CME hours in their field of specialty and 50% in any other than its respective specialty.
The body further stated that under the circumstances a doctor do not wishes to practice, a certificate stating "Not valid for Practice" may be issued on request.