Doctors Now Need 30 Credit Hours in 5 Years to Maintain Registration
Kolkata: In a major policy shift aimed at ensuring continuous professional development, the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) has made it mandatory for all registered doctors to earn a minimum of 30 credit hours through seminars and conferences—termed Continuing Medical Education (CME)—within a five-year period for renewal of their registration.
The decision was formalised during the Council’s recent two-day meeting and was announced via an official notice posted on its website.
Licence Renewal Now Tied to Educational Credits
“This is to notify that all doctors registered under the West Bengal Medical Council must get a minimum of 30 hours point of credit hours in a period of 5 years, without which they will not be eligible for updating their registration,” the notice stated.
Until now, doctors in the state were not required to provide evidence of CME participation for licence renewal. However, starting with this directive, they must submit certificates verifying attendance at accredited conferences and seminars.
Council Aligns with National Medical Commission Guidelines
“This decision was taken as per the guidelines of the National Medical Commission, which regularly urges state councils to ensure doctors remain updated with the latest medical knowledge,” said WBMC Vice-President Dr Susanta Kumar Roy.
The number of credit hours earned from an event will depend on its nature, with a standardised methodology to be used for calculation. Organisers must approach the Council in advance to seek accreditation for their events, after which they will be issued certificates indicating credit hours for distribution among attendees.
Transparency Demanded by Medical Community
While many doctors have welcomed the move as a step towards standardising medical competence, concerns have also been raised about transparency.
Dr Kaushik Chaki, President of the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum, said, “We support the idea, but the council must clearly define the parameters for credit hours and make public the list of eligible conferences. Lack of transparency could open the door to misuse.”
He urged the Council to publish comprehensive rules specifying the criteria for events to qualify for CME credits and how hours will be calculated.
Implementation and Monitoring
The Council will be responsible for evaluating submitted certificates during licence renewal applications to confirm if the doctor has met the required 30-hour threshold. Any certificates left unused after a conference must be returned to the council by the organiser to prevent misuse.
Doctors who fail to meet the credit requirement within five years will be ineligible for re-registration until they fulfill the criteria.
Medical professionals said CME participation is already a norm for many, but formalising the requirement ensures uniformity. “It’s a positive move to ensure all doctors are kept up to date with evolving treatment methods,” said a senior physician.
As the policy rolls out, the medical community now awaits clarity on specific rules and approved event types to avoid ambiguity in implementation.
