Continuing medical education in primary health care: the Kupat Holim experience

The experience of Kupat Holim (Health Insurance Institution of the General Federation of Labor) (KH) in organizing and delivering continuing medical education (CME) from 1970 to 1982 is described and analyzed. In 1970, KH granted the primary care physicians working in its ambulatory clinics paid leave to pursue CME. In 1979, a CME fund, to which both employers and employees contribute, was established to defray the cost of CME. No single scheme of CME is offered alone, so that programs can be adapted to the differing needs of doctors trained in many countries. CME is available through the Postgraduate Institute for Medical Education, the several medical schools, hospital services, and KH in-service training and other programs. The factors governing curriculum development, demand for courses and program choice are presented in a model that can be used for further analysis, discussion and planning.