THE General Practitioners’ Society (GPS) under the Myanmar Medical Association introduced a project last month to develop and maintain high quality standards among general and family medical practitioners.

The society will implement the project as a pilot program in Yangon with the participation of 30 general practitioners (GPs) who hold diplomas in general practice or family medicine from the Department of Medical Science.

Participating GPs will be required to upgrade infrastructure and hygiene at their clinics to international standards, including equipping them with basic medical instruments and emergency kits.

Dr Tin Aye, the president of society, said the project will include conducting peer audits at the clinics.

“The project will help set a higher standard for GP clinics. Most clinics right now are not in satisfactory condition and need to be upgraded to gain the trust of the public,” he said.

He said the society aims to remove obstructions to providing optimum care, such as the absence of sufficient space, privacy, medical equipment and emergency medicines.

Dr Tin Aye the project will also include classifying GPs according to three levels – basic, intermediate and advanced – according to their participation in seminars, conferences, training programs, research and other knowledge-enhancing aspects of the medical profession.

All GPs will start at the basic level and will earn credits by taking part in seminars, symposia, conferences and the like as attendees, organisers or presenters. Those who earn 25 credits within one year will advance to the intermediate level.

Graduating from the intermediate level requires 25 more credits, earned by attending professional leadership training or participating in portfolio case presentations. Credits are earned at the advanced level by teaching, writing or conducting research, or by becoming involved in international aspects of medical field.

The society will check the marks once a year and will award and give certificates to outstanding GPs.

Dr Tin Aye said the society will also organise a continuing professional development forum every month at the headquarters of the Myanmar Medical Association with the aim of enhancing the clinical skills of GPs and keeping them updated on advances in medicine.

“To help standardise treatment methods, GPs participating in the project will also use uniform patient medical records, patient referral forms, health education calendars and medical bags,” he said.

Dr Tin Aye said the society hopes to extend the project to Mandalay in July.
“We will also accept an additional 20 GPs in Yangon in the future,” he said.