RCGP membership extended to Maltese family doctors
Family doctors in Malta are now eligible to
become International Members of the Royal College of General
Practitioners (RCGP) on passing the graduation examination at the
Malta College of Family Doctors (MCFD), which is now accredited to
the MRCGP[INT] standard.
Family doctors in Malta are now eligible to become International
Members of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) on
passing the graduation examination at the Malta College of Family
Doctors (MCFD), which is now accredited to the MRCGP[INT]
standard.
Malta has become the seventh site worldwide to have its local
examination in family medicine receive MRCGP[INT] accreditation,
after the RCGP signed an agreement with the country’s Ministry of
Health and the Malta College of Family Doctors.
Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
[International] – or MRCGP[INT] – is a level of membership that is
available by examination only.
International Membership of the College supports the development
of general practice/family medicine worldwide, helping to raise
standards of the discipline and improve patient care.
Though family doctors in different parts of the world face
different challenges and require different skills and knowledge,
some aspects of good primary care are truly international. The
MRCGP[INT] accreditation scheme is developed by identifying these
universal aspects, while still assessing the different skill sets
needed to deal with local challenges – such as epidemiology,
disease profiles, cultural and religious practices, as well as the
structure of local healthcare systems.
The other MRCGP[INT]-accredited sites are located throughout the
Middle East and South Asia, as well as in Egypt and Brunei.
Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the RCGP, said: “I am delighted that
we have reached this agreement with Malta during my time as Chair
of the College. Being of Maltese parents, I feel very proud to be
able to see International Membership of the RCGP opened up to its
family doctors.
“Our international members are an important part of the College,
and the work we do worldwide has a great impact on the standards of
healthcare across the globe. One of my priorities has been to
develop our role as a leading global organisation for general
practice and family medicine through international partnerships.
This agreement is a great step along the way to achieving
that.”
Dr Jurgen Abela, President of the MCFD said: “Obtaining the
MRCGP[INT] accreditation is an important step in the history of
family medicine in Malta. This should further stimulate the
development of family medicine and consolidate what has been
achieved so far. The support of the Ministry of Health to achieve
such a target was important. I hope that our relations, both
academic and non-academic, with the RCGP continue to deliver
tangible results like this in the future.”
ENDS
Further information
RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7574/7575/7576/7569
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes to editors
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more
than 44,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We
work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general
medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education,
training, research and clinical standards.