The Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners – Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) proudly announces that The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) has recognized the CPD Accreditation System of the state of Qatar as substantially equivalent to RCPSC's CME accreditation program, effective January 1, 2017 through 2020.
The recognition was the culmination of an outstanding collaboration, which QCHP-AD and RCPSC (through its Royal College Canada International (RCCI)) had and contributed to the development of the National CPD Accreditation System, and followed a meticulous review of the system and its implementation by the RCPSC.
In addition to the substantial equivalency, QCHP-AD and RCPSC signed two other important agreements; the first is a recognition of credit agreement by which any CPD credits granted by QCHP-AD-accredited activity will be recognized as equivalent to Royal College Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit and vice versa. The second is a one of its kind agreement by which RCPSC will recognize fulfillment of QCHP-AD CPD cycle requirements as equivalent and substitutive for participation in the RSPSC's MOC program. Both later agreements will help fellows of RCPSC to maintain their licensure in both countries by only participation in the Qatar National CME/CPD program.
Our National CPD accreditation system has achieved global recognition. It is currently; recognized by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME); and our credit system is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy for Family Physicians (AAFP). Being an Internationally recognized accreditation body will assure the people of Qatar that healthcare practitioners working in the country are participating in high quality CPD activities to stay competent and provide their patients with the best and safest care.
It is worth mentioning that currently, there are 12 QCHP CPD accredited providers in the State of Qatar including healthcare facilities and academic institutions (governmental and non-governmental). During 2016, a total of 712 CME/CPD activities were accredited either by QCHP CPD accredited providers (618) or directly by QCHP-AD (94). Moreover, QCHP-AD recognizes the healthcare practitioners' participation in accredited group-learning activities conducted outside the state of Qatar, as long as the activity is accredited by an international accreditation body that is recognized by QCHP-AD.
In addition, the National CME/CPD program and framework provide to healthcare practitioners the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that might include accredited and non-accredited activities, self-learning and group-learning activities, online and face-to-face activities, internal (inside Qatar) and external (outside Qatar with terms and conditions met) activities. Since the implementation of the National CPD accreditation system on 7th March, 2016 and till 3rd January, 2017; a total of 27,285 healthcare practitioners activated their CPD e-portfolio account with 325,478 activities completed and submitted.