International Health News

Melbourne, Australia, February 27, 2004

Wonca – World Organisation of Family Doctors has just launched the Wonca International Diploma in Family Medicine. This postgraduate diploma is being posted for all global doctors and information can be found on www.globalfamilydoctor.com .

The cost of the three year diploma course has been kept reasonable to allow maximum access by global doctors and Wonca has provided a three tier payment based on national GDP.

Each participant receives 6 multimedia CD based topics and all educational programs are worked through until the participant has completed the required work, at which time a certificate of satisfactory completion of that topic, becomes available. This certificate can be submitted online or filled in on the screen and printed out. On presentation of six such certificates each participant will receive a diploma (Wonca International Diploma in Family Medicine (CME/CPD)) and a Wonca ‘pin’.

Individual doctors, as well as national medical colleges and academies, can access the program and it is expected that the national colleges will provide ‘reciprocal points’, that is, the international diploma would be recognised as a national diploma or CME/CPD program. In most countries doctors are required to undertake continuing medical education, to remain vocationally registered.

CD ROM was chosen as the platform as many regions have poor internet access and CD also allows fast interactivity and the use of video and animation. CDs are kept ‘intuitive’ for those who have English as a second language.  

This initiative, by Global Family Doctor – Wonca Online is part of Global Family Doctor’s aim to provide parity of resources for all global doctors and their patients as well as to share quality medical resources.

see www.globalfamilydoctor.com

The WIDFM Scholarship Program is being launched at the same time. This program aims to provide scholarships (fully paid diplomata) for those in greatest need. medi+WORLD International and Global Family Doctor - Wonca Online have both committed to perpetual scholarships with the inaugural medi+WORLD International scholarship being awarded to Dr Manzoor Butt from Islamabad, Pakistan. Dr Butt's thirst for education and his committment to his patient population being the reasons for his award.

All diploma content must meet the criteria set up by the Wonca International Accreditation Committee, chaired by Professor John Murtagh. medi+WORLD International, Australian multimedia medical education publishers, and Joint Venture partners with Wonca, in Global Family Doctor Pty Ltd have supplied their medi+CALâ Program as the first accredited offerings.