VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Health and American partners are collaborating to build a national accreditation system that certifies the quality of continuing medical education for medical professionals.

In 2009, Vietnam passed the Law of Examination and Treatment in Vietnam, which requires all medical professionals to have 48 hours of continuing medical education every two years to maintain their professional license. Continuing medical education is very important because it helps doctors keep their skills up to date.  

“Continuing medical education is an essential part of the national strategy to improve the capacity of health care workers in Vietnam. It is also one of the key factors in ensuring the quality and uniformity of human resources, which translates to equity and quality in health care services,” said Professor Nguyen Cong Khan, Director of the Administration of Science Technology and Training.

“However, continuing medical education accreditation is something that Vietnam has never done before. At this workshop, we are very honored to have the opportunity to learn from the President of the U.S. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, Professor Murray Kopelow, and other American colleagues about continuing medical education accreditation so we can soon begin implementing this important work in Vietnam,” Khan said.

Over 40 staff from the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and universities will attend the two-day workshop in Hanoi on March 26 and 27, which is organized by the Administration of Science Technology and Training, Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam and supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

“All healthcare professionals need access to high quality continuing medical education in order to remain up-to-date in their field. In recent years, the Vietnam Ministry of Health has made important strides toward establishing a national continuing medical education system and Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam is proud to support the Administration of Science Technology and Training in their efforts to set up a system of continuing medical education accreditation,” said Dr. Todd Pollack, Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam’s Country Director.

Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam is a partner of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan Fund for AIDS Relief program, and has been working with the Ministry of Health of Vietnam to improve medical education of university students and practicing physicians since 2004.

PV