The Tamil Nadu Medical Council has decided to permit registered medical practitioners to carry over incomplete credit hours under Continuing Medical Education to the next block of five years. A group of doctors mounted a legal challenge, which failed.
The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, stipulate that physicians improve their medical knowledge and skills continuously. They must affiliate himself/herself with a reputed allopathic organisation and attend the continuing medical education programme for at least 30 hours every five years.
The Tamil Nadu Medical Council implemented the rule but a few doctors challenged it. While the rule stipulates action against registered medical practitioners who do not complete the 30 credit hours in the stipulated time, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council allowed doctors to carry over the unfinished credit hours to the next block of five years.
