Medical council exempts CME Credit hours for doctors for renewal of registration in Telangana

Hyderabad: Providing relief to the doctors in the state, the State Medical Council of Telangana has recently allowed exemption regarding mandatory submission of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours for renewing registration from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

In fact the doctors will have to produce altogether 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 CME credit hours if they apply for renewal of registration from January 1 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 respectively.

Issuing notice in this regard, TSMC has referred to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Guidelines, as per which it is mandatory for the doctors to earn 30 CPD (CME) credit hours w.e.f. 1st January, 2023 by the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration.

"Telangana State Medical Council has taken the following decisions keeping in view of Covidl9 in earning CPD (CME) credit hours for renewal of registration," read the notice issued by the Council.

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As per the recent TSMC notification, the rules regarding requirement of CME Credit hours is as follows:

• Producing of CME Credit Hours is exempted for the one year i.e., from 1st January, 2023 to 31st December, 2023 only for those who apply for Renewal of Registration.
• 6 CME Credit Hours to be produced by the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration w.e.f 1st January, 2024.
• 12 CME Credit Hours to be produced by the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration w.e.f 1st January, 2025.
• 18 CME Credit Hours to be produced by the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration w.e.f 1st January, 2026.
• 24 CME Credit Hours to be produced by the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration w.e.f 1st January, 2027
• 30 CME Credit Hours to be produced by the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration w.e.f 1st January, 2028.

Therefore, the Rules for 30 CME Credit hours is being implemented in Telangana from January 2028. Confirming this, the State Medical Council mentioned in the recent notice, "Hence, Telangana State Medical Council has decided that it is mandatory to produce 30 CME Credit hours w.e.f 1° January, 2028 by all the doctors who apply for Renewal of Registration."

Medical Dialogues had last year reported that bringing uniformity regarding the rules concerning the existing practice of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for doctors, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) had made it mandatory for all doctors to attend Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs and earn at least 30 CPD credit hours every five years.

The submission of the documentation of CPD credit hours was made mandatory for the renewal of the license of the Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs), in the Draft Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2022.

Also Read: CPD Credit Hours mandatory for renewal of medical license every 5 years for every doctor: NMC draft