The Status Quo of Continuing Medical Education in South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions: A Scoping Review of 33 Countries

Abstract

Introduction: Continuing medical education is a process of continuous learning to maintain physicians' competence and professional performance. Efforts to make continuing medical education (CME) programs mandatory in the South-East Asia Region by linking credits to the renewal of registration have met with mixed success. However, there are no recent reviews on the CME status in regions with a large number of developing countries. This review aims to map the practices and regulation of the CME activities in the South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

Methods: A scoping review was undertaken using a modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. A search was conducted within PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus databases, and national medical and health council websites.

Results: Evidence on the provision of CME is available for all but seven of the 33 countries in both regions. Fourteen countries of varying income levels have implemented mandatory CME linked to the renewal of registration. They have statutory bodies governing CME and allocating credits, with most requiring a large number of hourly based activities for the renewal of registration and evidence of a wide range of local providers.

Discussion: Financial resources, a thorough organizational structure and standards, and a wide range of local CME providers seem to promote the implementation of mandatory CME in most of these countries.