Compulsory CME is under to purview of the Singapore Medical Coucil (SMC) which administers it. The council is responsible for accrediting CME programmes/activities, and implementing the compulsory CME requirements which have to be met for the renewal of practising certificates.

Most fully and conditionally registered doctors hold a 2 year practising certificate. As CME is being made compulsory from 1 Jan 2003, CME credit records will not be taken into consideration for renewals of practising certificates in 2003 and 2004. However, commencing from 1 Jan 2005 onwards, all doctors renewing their 2-year practising certificates must obtain a minimum total of 50 CME points within the CME qualifying period (the preceding 2 years) before their practising certificate can be renewed. Doctors are expected to attain at least 25 CME points in a CME year (January to December). SMC will award a CME certificate to those doctors who have attained 25 or more points in a CME year.

There are 4 main categories of CME activities for the practising doctor to choose from:

• Attendence at grand rounds, local meetings, overseas meetings
  (categories 1A + 1B + 1C - maximum of 25 points a year)
  
• Publication
  (category II -maximum 20 points a year)
  
• Self study
  (category IIIA - maximum 5 points a year)
  
• Structured accredited distance-learning programmes with verifiable self-assessment
  (category IIIB - maximum 18 points per year)

Core CME points

Specialists are expected to obtain at least 50% of the minimum credit of 25 points in a CME year cycle from CME activities of their registered specialty, ie core CME credits.

The CME points for core topics are prescribed by the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. Doctors in Basic and Advanced Specialist trainng (BST and AST) programmes will follow the prescribed CME programmes of their specialty boards.

CME organisers will only submit claims on behalf of doctors for Category 1A and Catergory 1A activities. All doctors have to submit their own claims for Category 1C, Category II and Categroy IIIA activities. Specialists will also have to submit their own claims for Category IIIB activities.

Website Access

With effect from April 2003, the Singapore Medical Coucil (SMC) will launch a new Online Continuing Medical Education (CME) System at the website address, http://www.smc.gov.sg

The new system will have additional features to facilitate doctors in keeping track of their own CME progress. Prior to the launch of the new system, all fully and conditionally registered doctors will be issued with new passwords.

From now until 31 March 2003, the Online CME System may be accessed at http://www.smc-cme.gov.sg. In view of the impending switch to the new system, you are advised to submit your claims for Categories 1C, 2, and 3A activities and for specialists, also Category 3B activities, for the period 1 January to 31 March 2003 only after 1 April 2003 when the new system is in place.

If you have any queries regarding CME, please email moh_smc@moh.gov.sg or fax your query to 6221-0558. You may also call the CME Hotline at 6372-3060.

CME organisers will log attendence on behalf of doctors and submit attendance records to the SMC CME Secretariat for Category 1A (Teaching sessions/ Grand ward rounds) and Categroy 1B activities (Local conferences and Seminars).

User ID and Password

All fully and conditionally registered doctors will be issued with a User ID (MCR number) and password by mail. With this password, you can enter the password-protected areas of the SMC Online CME Credit Registration System via the Medical Practitioner Login link on the homepage. To log in, click on the Medical Practitioner Login link on the homepage. Then enter your user ID (MCR number) and password. If successful, you will enter the Medical Practitioner Main Menu. You can also find out about CME Credit Requirements and Calendar of local CME activities on the homepage.

Submitting Claims for CME Activities

1. Claims for Category 1A (Teaching Sessions/Grand Ward Rounds) and Category 1B (Local Conferences and Seminars) Activities
   For these 2 categories, the CME organisers will submit your attendance records electronically to the SMC CME Secretariat on your behalf. The credit points will be added to your CME account.
   
   
2. Claims for Category 1C (Overseas Conferences and Seminars) Activities
   For these activities, you will need to submit your own attendance claims electronically. To do this, click on the Submit Category 1C Claim link in the Medical Practitioner Main Menu. You are required to keep hard copies of your attendance records for overseas conferences and seminars until 1st July of the following year. The SMC CME Secretariat may request these records during periodic audits.
   
   
3. Claims for Category II (Publication of Original Papers/Editorial work) Activities
   For these activities, you will need to submit your own attendance claims electronically. To do this, click on the Submit Category II Claim link in the Medical Practitioner Main Menu. Claims for CME points are only allowed for papers published in the same year as the CME year.
   
   
4. Claims for Category IIIA (Self Study)/IIIB (Distance Learning) Activities
   For these activities, you will need to submit your own attendance claims electronically under Category IIIA/B Claim Link.

Sample core CME calendars

Sample core CME calendars for specialties are posted at http://www.academyofmedicine.edu.sg

SSO CME Website

The SSO aims to keep ophthalmologists updated with current CME programmes available in both government restructured and private sectors. The ophthalmic CME programmes are classified into regular and special programmes. The regular programme includes the regular teaching programme and the advanced specialty training programme. The special programme includes local conferences, seminars, workshops, visiting expert programmes and family physician programmes.