This document discusses continuing medical education (CME) guidelines from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). It defines CME and outlines PMDC requirements that physicians must complete a minimum number of CME credit hours/years to maintain their license. PMDC guidelines establish standards for credit points and durations. CME is important for enhancing skills, improving health workforce performance, and rational drug use. The document also lists examples of CME areas and opportunities for different specialties, as well as a checklist for setting up a CME unit.

1. Abdul Rehman Pirzado

2. Definition
CME is the abbreviation for Continuing Medical Education
and consists of educational activities which serve to
maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and
professional performance and relationships that a
physician uses to provide services for patients, the public,
or the profession

3. PMDC Guidelines
 PMDC has developed standards and guideline on use of
CPO as a mandatory requirement under section 16B of
PM&OC (Amendment) Act 2012.
 According to which;
 License to practice be given only to those medical/dental
practitioners /specialists who have completed at least :
 5 credit hours/years for GPs
 10 credit hours /year for specialists)
These training shall be conducted by recognized
DAI/professional body.

4. PMDC Guidelines for Credit Points
 One Credit Point = 2 credit hours
 One credit hour = 3 hours Session
 Maximum 6 hours duration per day = 2 credit hours

5. The Importance of CME
Well established and documented to contribute in:
 Enhanced skills and competencies of providers
 Improved performance of health work force
 Rational use of drugs
 Improved client- provider relationship

6. Areas of CME as per PMDC guidelines
No Category Suggested areas of CME
General Practitioners/
Administration
Any Clinical CME/ CDE,BLS,ACLS
Pre-clinical Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-chemistry ,
Pharmacology
Para-clinical Pathology /Micro-Biology/ Community Health
Sciences, Dental materials, dental pathology
Surgical Surgical and Allied discipline (medical/dental)
Medical Medical Medicine and Allied
discipline(medical/dental),
Multi-specialty CME/
CDE
BLS, ACLS, Any specialty or general
practitioner

7. Areas of CME and opportunities
Category Opportunities
General
Practitioners/
Administration
•Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness
(IMNCI).
• Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)
•Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)
•Management of Malaria
•Integrated Management of adult Illness (IMAI)
•Management of Tuberculosis using DOTS

8. Areas of CME and opportunities
Category Opportunities
Pre-clinical
Para-clinical
• Teaching / Learning Techniques
•Research Methodologies
•Proposal writing
•Laboratory Techniques
Medical •IMNCI
• CMAM
•EPI
•Management of Malaria
•Integrated Management of adult Illness (IMAI)
•Management of Tuberculosis using DOTS

9. Areas of CME and opportunities
Category Opportunities
Surgical • Surgical Techniques at a district Hospital
•BSL, ASL
•Essential Newborn Crae
•Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postnatal and Newborn
Care (PCPNC).
•Management of Obstetric Complications,
•Teaching / Learning Techniques
•Research Methodologies
•Proposal writing

10. Checklist for preparing a CME Unit
 Strengthening Department of Medical education.
 Establishing Resource Centre
 Establishing skill Laboratories
 Identification of In house Resource Persons
 Identification of Visiting Resource Persons
 Accreditation form PM&DC
 Accreditation form Health Department
 Maintaining Database for verification

11. Thanks