[Origin and growth of the National Program of Continuous Academic Development for the General Physician]

The "Programa Nacional de Actualización y Desarrollo Académico para el Médico General" (National Program of Continuous Academic Development for the General Physician, PRONADAMEG) was created at the Faculty of Medicine ofthe Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, (UNAM) in 1993, following the great success of courses developed for recently graduated physicians applyingfor a resident medical specialty. During its first 3 years andfollowing the agreement made with the National Academy of Medicine, PRONADAMEG spread to practically all corners of the Mexican Republic, its head quarters at Public State Universities. In March 1998, the program had extended to 27federal entities and 57 headquarters, had 5,760 students registered in regular courses and 1,780 students in correspondence courses.