Virtual classrooms to help doctors score a point

Updated on: Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Doctors worried about scoring the mandatory points for renewing their registration can now go the e-way. Medical education seminars can now be held online, and doctors could attend virtual classrooms from the comfort of their homes and update their knowledge on a regular basis, said the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) on Sunday. The MMC, which came into being on July 9 after a 12 year long wait, addressed hundreds of doctors affiliated to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) from across the state on Sunday through a live webcast. Concerns over fulfilling the mandatory 30 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) over five years topped the list of worries for doctors.

Doctors serving in rural areas were particularly concerned about fulfilling the criteria, which is a requisite for the renewal of their registrations every five years. Member of the MMC, Dr Shivkumar Utture said that when communication was advancing by the day, medical education could no longer lag behind. “We realised that while doctors in Mumbai can easily attend conferences every weekend, those in rural areas do not have that facility. So, we are working towards a system where doctors can attend conferences through interactive technology,” he said. Utture added that it would also be a boon for ageing doctors. “CMEs are a must, as doctors who have passed out decades back need to be updated on latest diagnostic and treatment modalities,” he added.

Doctors from places like Pen and Beed spoke about the inconvenience endured in travelling all the way to Mumbai to renew their registrations. Currently, doctors from the entire state have to physically come to the MMC’s Mumbai office for registration purposes. Another concern voiced by the doctors was the overwhelming number of non-allopathic doctors practising without any rules or laws biding on them.

Virtual classrooms to help doctors score a point

More Education news