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The Government is to set up a Task Force to examine issues relating to Continuing Medical Education (CME). The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss announced the setting up of a Task Force at the end of a one-day National Consultation with professional medical bodies on CME and Registration of Clinical Establishments here today. The consultation was called at the initiative of Dr. Ramadoss on three important issues: continuing medical education, rural posting and formulation of a Clinical Establishments’ Bill. The Minister said that while the Government had a draft formulation on the Clinical Establishments’ Bill, on continuing medical education, a draft needed to be developed by a Task Force after due deliberations.
Today’s consultation was attended by several professional bodies of the medical fraternity from all over the country including representatives of several specialists’ bodies like Indian Associations of Physicians, Dermatologists, Epidemiologists, Oncologists, the Indian Psychiatric Society, Society of Anesthesiologists, Surgical Gastro Enterologists, experts from Obstetrics and Gynecology and Neonatology besides the Indian Medical Association, The Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India. The deliberations centered on the kind of structure which will be required for registration of clinical establishments, the question of uniformity in standards with regard to their locations and also the time frame for re-registration. It was pointed out by the Minister that the Clinical Establishments’ Bill will bring the entire country under its ambit and will be applicable both to private and government establishments. Reacting to the points that about six states have already rules for regulating nursing homes and other clinical establishments, the Minister said that these existing legislations would be considered and streamlined for uniformity while keeping in mind the federal structure in the Constitution. It was also clarified that the registration of clinical establishments will be valid for a period of three years and would not require re-registration every year. Suggestions relating to one window clearance and elimination of approval from multiple agencies would be looked into, the Minister said.
The Minister assured the professional medical bodies that their plea for concessions will be taken up with the appropriate departments of the Government. He also assured them that his Ministry will extend financial and technical support for conducting examination relating to Continuing Medical Education.
On continuing medical education and rural posting, several options were suggested. The Minister promised to examine their suggestions and pass them on to the Task Force set up for the purpose. Dr. Ramadoss said that the Clinical Establishments’ Bill redrafted on the basis of the suggestions received today will be put on the Health and Family Welfare website for comments and further suggestions before a final version was evolved.
EK/MK.
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