What is CME?
Is CPD different from CME?
Why CME?
Who organizes CME/CPD activities?
How do you benefit from the MPC Program?
What is the procedure for participation in CME/CPD activities?
How do you calculate participation in CME/CPD activities?
Are live operative procedures relayed to an audience or clinical sessions accepted as CME/CPD?
I have already gained more than 250 credits, within the first year. Do I need to collect additional points during the current cycle?
Additional Information
Further details (Contact Address)

What is CME?
Continuing medical education (CME) consists of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, professional performance and relationships that physicians and other health professionals use to provide services to patients, the public, or the profession.

Is CPD different from CME?
The term continuing professional development (CPD) is often used as an alternative to CME. It signifies the emphasis on professional development, and encompasses activities undertaken by many categories of health professionals and aimed at a wider range of competencies and attributes.
The Ministry of Health of the State of Kuwait has designated the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS) as the authority that would oversee the organization of formal CME/CPD activities. The CME Center of KIMS manages the routine implementation of the scheme.

Why CME?
The basic purpose of CME is to improve the performance of the health professional in his practice, and thus enhance the care that patients receive.

Who organizes CME/CPD activities?
Institutions and organizations possessing the requisite expertise function as CME/CPD providers, after accreditation by KIMS. At present, the main CME/CPD providers are the Faculties of KIMS, the Health Sciences Center and its Faculties, Specialty Divisions of the Ministry of Health that function at the national level and professional associations and their specialist societies.

How do you benefit from the MPC Program?
The MPC program will facilitate health professionals to keep abreast of the developments in their specialties, and enable them to provide care of high standard to the community. In addition, the Ministry of Health requires practitioners to participate in accredited CME/CPD activities and submit evidence of participation for promotion or renewal of appointment.

What is the procedure for participation in CME/CPD activities?
Enrollment in CME/CPD activities is open to all concerned. Organizers will furnish information about accredited programs via brochures, the KIMS web site <www.kims.org.kw>, the Bulletin of KIMS, and through circulars. Practitioners should contact the organizer for updated information on registration procedure, scheduling, venue and other relevant details.

How do you calculate participation in CME/CPD activities?
All accredited CME/CPD activities would have a credit value assigned to them. Depending on the CME Provider, the manner of involvement of the participants and the approach to program planning, they will fall in either Category 1 or Category 2.

Participation in programs organized by accredited institutions abroad could be considered for recognition by KIMS.

Are live operative procedures relayed to an audience or clinical sessions accepted as CME/CPD?
Operative procedures relayed live to a group of practitioners do not qualify to be registered as CME/CPD. However, segments that are planned and presented as practical components of a learning activity could be considered for registration, provided the organizer gives information on the learning objectives, content area and how the observers are to be guided during the demonstration to ensure that the event becomes a learning experience.

I have already gained more than 250 credits, within the first year. Do I need to collect additional points during the current cycle?
It is possible that you reach the total required within 1 or 2 years. You still need to engage in appropriate CME/CPD activities every year during the balance period in the 5-year cycle, and show evidence of it when requested. The goal of the MPC Program is maintenance of professional competence through continuing education—collecting credit points is only an indicator but not its primary aim.

Additional Information
Information about the MPC Program of KIMS and the activities to be scheduled is available in the CME Center web site <www.kims.org.kw/cme>, Bulletin of the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization and in the Kuwait Medical Journal.

Further details from:
CME Center
Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization
10th Floor, Behbehani Building, Al-Sharq
P.O. Box 1793, 13018, Kuwait
Fax: 2467140
Email: cmecenter@kims.org.kw