In a first, MMC to give credit points to medicos for webinars
31 Aug 2020 01:36:46
Dr Shivkumar Utture
Principal Correspondent :
Screenshots after first half hour and after the end to be taken, says MMC President Dr Shivkumar Utture
The medical doctors have to re-register themselves after every five years with the respective State Medical Councils. As per the existing rules the doctors if attends Continued Medical Education or conference they get the credit points which help them during their registration. The Medical Council across country faced with the problem of allotting credit points against the backdrop of pandemic as most conferences are being held on-line in the form of webinar.
Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) came up with the solution, according to which every medical doctor attending webinar would get credit points. The organising medical association will have to send screenshots of every attendee taken after first half an hour and after the end to the MMC. This way MMC has become the first institute in the country to take such a decision. Other councils are not taking cue from MMC. Dr Shivkumar Utture, President of MMC told ‘The Hitavada’, “MMC cannot act as Head Master in school. But yes the issue of proper attendance was before us. Members may get themselves registered for the activity and by showing face would leave, was the issue.
Now, they have to register themselves with the association the one which would organise the activity and have to participate in the webinar. The organisers would take screenshots of every member and send the same to us.” To monitor the webinar as usual MMC will appoint its observer. Dr Vinky Rughwani, Vice-President of MMC said, “In view of the covid-19 pandemic, Government of India and State Government has given directions not to hold physical conferences, workshop, meetings to reduce mass gatherings to avoid spread of covid-19. In view of the said directives, we had earlier decided not to grant credit points to physical conferences.” But medical organisations demanded with MMC for granting credit points to webinars which are needed to update medical knowledge of medical practitioners registered with the council.
Hence Maharashtra Medical Council has finally approved to grant credit points to these webinars. This was approved in the meeting in presence of President of MMC Dr Shivkumar Utture, which Dr Rughwani and other MMC members attended. The said webinar shall be conducted by registered organisations, associations, medical colleges and teaching institutes. The application for accreditation needs to be sent to MMC 15 days prior to the date of webinar. Screenshots of the webinar will have to be sent to MMC 15 days prior to the date of Webinar. One credit point will be given to a medical practitioner for half day webinar and two credit points will be given for the full day Webinar. At the time of renewal registration medicos need 30 credit points which they collect by attending conferences, workshops and seminars.