Bulgarian Medical Association Will Insist on Making Continuing Medical Education Compulsory

Yoana Vodenicharova

BTA Photo

Sofia,

24.11.2023 20:14

(BTA)

The Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) said here on Friday that it will insist that continuing medical education (CME) become compulsory. This transpired at BMA’s sixth national congress themed "Healthcare Policies" and attended by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, leading experts, hospital managers, academic structures officials and other representatives of the health sector.

"The BMA will propose to launch a legislative initiative for developing an ordinance for mandatory CME," the Association's Board member Prof. Milena Staneva said. She added that due to the rapid development of science, including medicine, the knowledge acquired by physicians becomes obsolete in five years’ time and it is their moral duty to continue their education for a lifetime. Staneva cited data showing that CME is compulsory in 13 EU Member States.

"Bulgaria is among the 10 countries where CME is entirely voluntary. The continuing education is chaos. It is left in the hands of pharmaceutical companies, which is shameful and unacceptable," said the Rector of the Medical University in Sofia, Latchezar Traykov. He shared his observation that some 50% of the Bulgarian physicians do not attend even the well-organized symposia by pharmaceutical companies. "Continuing medical education should be supported by the Health Ministry and politicians," he said, adding that the Medical University will offer full cooperation. "If continuing education does not become compulsory and does not provide the necessary credits, the attendance will be minimal," Traykov noted.

According to the BMA, upgrading professional qualifications must be compulsory, and there must be both incentives and sanctions. CME should be conducted by medical universities, the ministries of education and health, scientific societies, and other accredited institutions, BMA Board Chairman Ivan Madzharov said.

Addressing the physicians at the congress, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said that regarding the budget, the Cabinet will do everything in its powers to facilitate physicians in their work and make patients feel better and people healthier.

/MY/