With thousands of new techniques and treatments being introduced every year, doctors, not just in the UAE, but all over the world face constant pressure to keep abreast of new developments in medical science. Knowledgeable patients who want the latest procedures they have seen advertised or written about in newspapers and magazines now shop around for doctors who know the latest technologies and treatments.

But what most patients don't know as they are wheeled in to the operating room, or undergo new drug regimes, is just how familiar with new equipment or current medical practice their doctors really are. It is not uncommon nowadays for physicians using new equipment not have any previous experience of operating it, having only watched training videos or just chatted to the equipment suppliers representative before treating patients.

Or they may lack training, In the early 1990's seven patients in New York died and 151 were injured during gall bladder surgery because their doctors were inadequately trained in using a laparoscope. One of the doctors had received not formal instruction; others had had only one or two day seminars. In another case a young woman was operated on in a New York hospital to remove fibroid tumours from her Uterus but died of cardiac arrest when the doctor allowed a equipment salesman to operate newly installed equipment in the operating theatre as he could not do so himself.

These sort of incidents could so easily happen here in the Emirates, were doctors from many countries around the world, speaking many different languages, with different levels of skill and knowledge; work either in large private practices, Government hospitals, or are practicing as consultants. It is left to the individual physician to maintain his or her skill level and knowledge of their particular branch of medicine, as there is no requirement by the Ministry of Health to ensure that doctors continue to keep themselves abreast of developments in the medical sciences. Although the Ministry of Health requires all doctors who wish to practice medicine in the UAE to have a recognised medical degree, have at least five years practical experience, and sit a proficiency test before they are granted a license to practice. It has no requirement that ensure they keep up to date.

While the UAE has one of the best systems of health care in the world it would seem sensible for the authorities to make mandatory the maintenance of training and knowledge by all doctors practising in the Emirates. Particularly as the science of medicine has been making major advances in life saving treatments and techniques at an accelerating over the last few years. To ensure that patients continue to receive high quality care, doctors should be made to obtain a special license from the Ministry of Health which must be renewed annually.

To qualify for renewal of their license, doctors will have to show that they have attended a fixed number of hours of continuous medical education in the year. The system of qualification could be based on that of the United States, where because of incidents such as those described above, the United States have passed a law making it mandatory that doctors, if they wish to retain their license to practice, must have at least 25-50 hours of continuous medical education every year that has been certified by a medical institution recognised by the American Medical Association.