European CME accreditation

It is accepted that Continuing Medical Education (CME) must be accredited as being of real educational value and free from commercial bias. There are now both national and European accreditation authorities, which are learning to live together. For international events, European accreditation requires dual accreditation from both the relevant clinical specialty and the national authority of the host country. The European Accreditation Council for CME was set up by the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS) in 1999. The system does not yet operate easily, and has not proven itself to be of real value either to CME providers or to learners. It is seen to lack professionalism and intellectual rigour. Some specialties have established joint accreditation boards with representatives from specialty sections of UEMS and from the corresponding European specialist scientific societies. The quality of the CME is now being considered more critically. Attention is being paid to effects of CME on clinical practice. The accreditation authorities are beginning to accredit e-learning. In the future, it is hoped that the accreditation system will work along with the providers to improve the quality and effectiveness of lifelong learning for the medical profession.