[Twelve years of continuing medical education in Slovakia]

Continuing medical education (CME) is an important part of the medical practice today. After the pregraduate and postgraduate education each general practitioner and specialist should follow the CME to maintain, develop or increase the knowledge and professional skills. In May of 2004 a Slovak accreditation council for continuing medical education (SACCME) was established on the base of mutual agreement among statutory representatives of Slovak Medical University, Association of Medical Schools, Slovak Medical Association, Slovak Medical Chamber, and Association of Private Physicians as non governmental non for profit organisations. During the period of 2004-2009, the number of accredited events (educational meetings, conferences and congresses) increased from 133 to 938 including the autodidactic tests in medical journals. From the beginning of 2009, SACCME credits obtained by physicians yearly are being transferred to the database of Slovak medical chamber which is responsible by law for control of CME process.