Abstract
There are numerous challenges that face global continuing medical education (CME). These challenges have resulted from the impact of on-going and important research; development and introduction of new therapeutic regimens, medications, procedures and devices; emerging new technologies; a need expressed by clinicians worldwide for some form of continuing medical education to enhance their competency; and the economic realities of funding such continuing medical education activities.
To effectively address these issues, CME providers, educators, governments, societies and commercial supporters throughout the world must collaborate to improve, encourage and nurture worldwide CME. Integrity and moral judgment must continue to be at the vanguard of CME while balancing economic factors. Some of the challenges inherent in the current global healthcare environment that must be tackled include:
redefining CME with a progressive eye to the evolution of healthcare and its impact on healthcare education economic realities of funding CME the role of commercial supporters in CME new technologies and trends in healthcare and their impact on CME.
These challenges, and more, demand a realistic, ethical, honourable and collaborative effort by the entire CME worldwide community to not only ensure a ‘win’ for all parties involved, but more importantly, to effect and improve patient care outcomes.
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