[Development of postgraduate medical education in Norway]

Guidelines for specialist accreditation in Norway were adopted in 1918. Since then, several reviews have been made of post graduate medical education, by the Norwegian Medical Association and in cooperation with universities and public authorities. The Ministry of Social Affairs assumed responsibility for post graduate medical education in 1982. In 1998, a national council was set up as an advisory body to the Ministry of Health and tasked with monitoring specialist training and the geographical coverage of medical manpower. During the last few years, there have been proposals for extensive reforms involving the residents as well as the hospitals. This article gives a brief outline of this development.