UNDERSTANDING THE WEAKNESSES AND THE THREATS OF CONTINUOUS MEDICAL EDUCATION IN THE 21st CENTURY

Abstract

The European Union of Medical Specialties is taking efforts to harmonize Continuous Medical Education (CME) requirements in Europe. However, in an era of financial crisis, some countries may undervalue the long-term public health impact of weak and budget-limited CME national systems. Appreciating the statement of the Greek ancient philosopher Socrates: “If you think that education is expensive, you should consider ignorance”, an assessment of the Greek CME system and its possible areas of improvement is attempted. From a questionnaire-based survey conducted to one hundred Greek practicing physicians, it seems that the vast majority respects the values of CME. However, they do not seem to clearly perceive CME as an obligatory, neither as an outcomes controlled process. They also confess CME access difficulties and geographic and financial discriminations. Overall, the Greek CME system was characterized as a non-satisfactory one and it did not seem to meet the physicians’ specific needs. Reviewing for relevant concerns also in a global context, it appears that institutionally mandating CME, controlling for the quality and the outcomes of it, as well as CME funding issues, they are all concepts where either robust evidence lacks and/or improvements warrant. Taking into consideration the above, a Greek CME system reformation is considered as utmost relevant and the comprehensive establishment of a National CME Authority, dedicated to address the above issues, is also suggested. Key words: accreditation of medical education, continuous medical education, continuous professional development, public health institutions and policies.