Beginning in 2003, continuing medical education will be compulsory for the first time in Singapore, according to Monica Wong, executive director of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. U.S. CME providers will note familiar themes in the Academy's goals.

“We want to make competency a focus,” says Wong, in an interview at her office, not far from the medical campus that includes Singapore General Hospital, the National Eye Center, the National Blood Center, the College of Medicine, and the School of Nursing. “CME has to come first — quality assurance will come later.”

She adds that the Academy had looked at the Canadian MOCOMP (Maintenance of Competency) model, and found it required more paperwork than the Academy's infrastructure could possibly handle. The Academy has, however, linked up with both the Australian and British medical societies to develop a recertification program.

Right now, the Academy is looking for online CME partners. “We're very interested in bringing online CME to our members,” says Wong. “It will be important, once CME becomes mandatory, to give them more educational resources to draw upon.”

To learn more, visit www.academyofmedicine.edu.sg.