CME/CPD in Finland


At the moment the majority of physicians participate annually in Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities. Annual surveys of the Finnish Medical Association (FMA) show that each physician spends on an average eight days on external training, such as courses and conferences. The FMA recommend two weeks per year for external CME activities. Legislation obliges employers to ensure the skills of health professionals and as such the employer should cover the cost of CME. Just as equally, health professionals are under a legal obligation to sustain and improve their professional skills.

Medical societies of different specialities are the main providers of CME–activities. Pro Medico collaborates with these societies to develop the quality of education. Quality criteria and instructions for courses and providers have been set out in a written booklet.

CME/CPD must be based on proper planning and the setting of goals not only for individual professionals but also CME trainers and health care providers. Health care organizations must monitor their employees’ educational activities, needs and goals in addition to the professionals recording of their own education. Feedback mechanisms must include evaluation of activities. The teaching methods used must be suitable for the professionals and in line with learning goals. Pro Medico collaborates with health care organisations in piloting new approaches aimed at uniting individual CPD tools into a more organisational-based framework.


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