The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has launched a three-day workshop to develop a standardised national framework for continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD) for doctors and dentists across Pakistan.
Titled “Designing High-Impact CME/CPD: From Concept to Completion,” the workshop is being held in Islamabad and brings together medical educationists, faculty members, institutional heads, and representatives from medical and dental institutions.
PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj chaired the workshop, while National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Vice Chancellor Lt Gen Wasim Alamgir inaugurated the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Rizwan Taj emphasised the need for doctors and dentists to engage in regular professional education to keep pace with rapid developments in medical science, technology and clinical practice.
He said the PMDC aims to establish a credible, practical and nationally standardised framework through which CME and CPD activities can be accredited, documented and monitored effectively.
The proposed framework will focus on identifying gaps in professional practice and learning needs, establishing clear educational objectives, designing relevant training programmes and assessing whether such activities contribute to improvements in professional practice and patient care.
The initiative will also cover key areas including governance, documentation, quality assurance, independence of educational activities and systematic evaluation of learning outcomes.
Prof Dr Rizwan Taj clarified that the initiative was not intended merely to introduce another regulatory requirement. Instead, he said, its broader objective was to foster a professional culture in which doctors and dentists continuously update their knowledge and clinical skills throughout their careers.
Lt Gen Wasim Alamgir highlighted the importance of continuous professional development in enabling healthcare professionals to remain informed about scientific advancements and evolving clinical practices.
According to the PMDC, the council will collaborate with universities, medical and dental colleges, professional bodies, healthcare institutions and practitioners to establish a nationally regulated and quality-assured CME/CPD system.
The initiative is being pursued under the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Act, 2022, which provides for the recognition of CPD opportunities and organisations, as well as the development of uniform minimum standards for registered medical and dental practitioners.
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The proposed national system is expected to strengthen professional development, improve the quality of medical education and ultimately contribute to better standards of patient care across Pakistan.
