Keep standards high for quality of basic medical education
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Against the background of an ongoing health workforce crisis, CPME underlines the central importance of high-quality medical education and training to maintain functioning health systems. National, European and international responsibilities to assure and continuously improve quality must be translated into action. It was reaffirmed that a lack of adequate number of health professionals is not a justified reason to lower qualifications and training standards.
European doctors oppose any reduction of the minimum training requirements set out in the EU Professional Qualifications Directive and underline that these represent minimum standards. CPME encourages regular reviews of curricula and enforcement of legislation.
Topics such as prevention, sustainability, well-being, and the use of artificial intelligence are essential areas for curriculum updates. Medical students should understand the benefits and limitations of digital health for patients, telemedicine and mobile health as well as understand the ethical and legal implications of digital health tools.
“Medical education is an integral component of any country's healthcare system. Through comprehensive and dynamic medical education, we invest in the health of our country and the well-being of future generations. Cutting corners on basic medical education is not the remedy to the growing shortages of doctors.”
“We need more, better, and happier doctors. High quality basic medical education is a cornerstone in attracting students to medicine as well as for preparing them to become competent, and practice-ready doctors who are adaptable to real-world challenges.”
We will monitor national quality assurance requirements and instruments at the European level as well as collaborate with other European Medical Organisations to continually improve standards and practices.