•   Continuing medical education: includes educational activities aimed at maintaining or developing the knowledge, skills and professional conduct of doctors.

•   Continuing professional development: includes professional activities designed to develop healthcare practitioners’ knowledge, skills and professional attitudes required in their careers. It also includes management, team building and management, medical teams and communication skills, technology, teaching and accountability.

•   Interchangeable use of terms: Although the terms ‘continuing professional development’ and ‘continuing medical education’ can be used interchangeably, most studies define ‘continuing medical education’ as a component of ‘continuing professional development’. “Continuing medical education” is considered part of a broader term known as “continuing professional development”.

•  The Higher Committee for Continuing Professional Development in Human Medicine: This is a committee affiliated with the Egyptian Health Council responsible for assisting in the formulation of general regulations and rules for professional licensing and renewal, in coordination with the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Health and Population, and for developing continuing professional development programmes (hereinafter referred to in this content as the Committee).

The Committee aims to ensure the availability of advanced professional education and training programmes that meet quality and safety standards in the health services provided to Egyptians, and to keep abreast of developments in medical specialities.

•   Professional registration of doctors: Professional registration means entering a doctor’s name in a professional register that certifies their eligibility to practise medicine. Registration also involves regularly updating information.

•   Professional licensing of a doctor: This is the process of granting a doctor a professional licence to practise medicine. This procedure involves assessing the doctor’s qualifications, training and medical experience, and verifying that they adhere to professional standards and ethics.

•   Licensing requirements: These are the standards and criteria that a doctor must meet to qualify for a licence to practise. These requirements include education, clinical training, examinations, and adherence to professional ethics in accordance with the governing regulations.

•   Renewal of a doctor’s licence: This refers to the process of reapplying for licence renewal before the current licence expires, in accordance with the governing regulations. This requires updating information and meeting renewal requirements, which include continuing education and training, as well as participation in continuing professional development activities.

•   Approval of requirements for the renewal of a doctor’s licence to practise: Recognition of the validity and legitimacy of the requirements for obtaining or renewing a doctor’s licence to practise, by the Egyptian Health Council and the Ministry of Health and Population.

•   Institutional accreditation: This is the official recognition granted to a provider of professional development services following an assessment of its documentation and performance in accordance with quality and educational standards, and other criteria specified by the Egyptian Health Council.

•   Activity: An educational event or programme aimed at medical practitioners based on specific needs, designed to achieve learning objectives. The activity is assessed to ensure it meets the requirements for continuing professional development.

•   Clinical audit: A process involving a systematic review of clinical care and the implementation of changes in accordance with clear criteria, with the aim of improving the quality of patient care and outcomes.

•   General assurance of inspection and review: An assessment of a person, organisation, process, activity or programme carried out in accordance with specific criteria to verify the validity and accuracy of their information and internal controls.

•   Professional assessment: This involves measuring an individual’s professional performance at a specific point in time against defined criteria; it is carried out in accordance with the relevant methodologies and may result in the establishment of an assessment scale.

•   Professional evaluation: This is an assessment followed by measures to improve professional performance.

•   Blended learning: an educational programme that combines compulsory participation in face-to-face learning with the completion of an associated distance learning component.

•   Competence/competencies: These encompass knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours and performance; the effectiveness of continuing professional development activities can be assessed by documenting changes in competencies, whilst taking into account the quality of healthcare fundamentals.

•   Knowledge: is the awareness of facts and the theoretical, practical or holistic understanding of a specific subject, and is considered part of competence.

•   Medical knowledge: This refers to understanding and knowledge of matters relating to medical science and healthcare. This knowledge includes a scientific understanding of human anatomy and physiology, diseases and their treatments, and how to diagnose various health conditions. Individuals typically acquire medical knowledge through medical education at medical schools, followed by professional training or practical experience in healthcare settings.

•   Clinical skills: These are the set of abilities and knowledge that doctors acquire to provide high-quality healthcare. These clinical skills include examining and diagnosing patients, communicating effectively with patients and the medical team, and making sound clinical decisions. They also include the skills to analyse medical information effectively, the ability to manage stress, and the capacity to make ethical decisions in the field of medicine.

•   Professionalism: This refers to a set of values, behaviours and communication skills that demonstrate the public’s trust in practitioners of this profession.

•   Professionalism in medical practice: means acting and behaving in a manner that reflects the ethical and professional standards expected in the field of medicine; it is defined as: the ability to carry out healthcare duties in a professional and ethical manner. Professionalism in medical practice includes possessing the necessary knowledge and skills, adhering to medical ethics and professional codes of conduct, and interacting effectively with patients and other healthcare teams.

•   Knowledge and skills: Possessing a high level of medical knowledge and the clinical skills necessary to provide high-quality healthcare.

•   Ethics and professional conduct: Adherence to the principles of professional ethics and medical values, such as medical confidentiality, safeguarding and protecting patient privacy, fully respecting patients’ rights, and avoiding discrimination.

•   Effective communication: The ability to communicate effectively with patients and other healthcare teams, and to understand patients’ needs.

•   Continuous professional development: Keeping abreast of developments in the field of medicine and engaging in continuous learning and training to improve clinical practice and deliver the best possible healthcare.

•   Informed decisions: Making informed medical decisions based on scientific evidence and established treatment pathways, whilst respecting patients’ wishes.

•   Human interaction: The ability to interact with patients in an empathetic and supportive manner, and to understand the human aspects of healthcare.

•   Self-directed learning: Refers to the learner’s full responsibility for their own learning needs and continuous professional development.

•   Approval: A decision issued to confirm that an event or activity meets the requirements for continuing professional development.

•   Continuing Professional Development Programme: A set of tools and activities that support continuing professional development, enabling participants to plan, document and evaluate their activities independently.

•   Certificate of Completion of Accredited Specialty Training: A certificate awarded upon successful completion of a specialist training programme at all levels, which has been approved by the relevant authorities.

•   Certificate of Completion of Specialty Training (CCST):

    This is the certificate attesting to the completion of the qualifying training for the specialism to which the doctor is attached.

•   Organising body: the body that submits an application for accreditation to deliver continuing professional development activities.

•   Commercial entity: An entity that produces, markets, resells or distributes healthcare goods or services.

•   Commercial support: funding provided by commercial stakeholders, whether in the form of a financial grant or contribution, used to cover the costs of the continuing professional development programme, either in full or in part.

•   Commercial sponsor: An entity or organisation providing commercial support, whether in the form of financial support or a contribution towards the delivery of scientific events.

•  Organising/Scientific Committee: The individuals responsible for designing and organising the event, including the selection of trainers and the preparation of content. The Organising/Scientific Committee does not include members who did not participate in the preparation of the event. (This does not include the content provided in the abstract, open paper or slides.) The organisation does not include non-medical logistical aspects.

•   Conference booklet: This is the official publication containing the conference programme, including the schedule and timing of scientific lectures, speakers and trainers, workshops, as well as a list of commercial sponsors and promotional and advertising activities.

•   Curriculum: A document outlining the aims, objectives, content, experiences, outcomes and processes of the educational programme. It also includes a description of the expected structure and methods of learning and teaching, as well as observations and supervision. The curriculum defines the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that participants are expected to have achieved by the end of the programme.

•   E-learning materials: A form of education that uses electronic technologies to access educational content at a time convenient to the learner; in most cases, this refers to a course or programme delivered via the Internet.

•   Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit: A credit equivalent to one hour of educational activity, which can be converted into the relevant CME credit for each country, as the ratio between actual time and CME credit varies from country to country.  These units must be awarded by the Egyptian Health Council or by bodies with which the Egyptian Health Council has mutual recognition agreements outside the Arab Republic of Egypt.

•   Accredited Trainers: A group of speakers and educational content providers accredited by the Egyptian Health Council.

•   Learning objective: The expected learning outcome of a specific educational activity, relating to the skills, knowledge and behaviour acquired by participants.

•   Learning methodology: The type of teaching method used to deliver the continuing professional development activity.

•   Face-to-face learning event: An event designed to provide educational material to doctors, involving either in-person or remote attendance, such as seminars, lectures, workshops and courses.

•   Accredited activities: activities accredited by the Egyptian Health Council or by foreign accreditation bodies recognised by the Council.

•   Needs assessment: The process of collecting and analysing data to determine the need for a specific educational/training activity and to prioritise the development of educational activities.

•   Outcome: The assessable results arising from participation in a continuing professional development activity.

•   Peer review: The process of reviewing educational/scientific materials or any other materials relevant to a doctor’s professional practice by other experts in the same professional field.

•   Accreditation cycle: A specific period of time determined by the regulations, laws, governing rules and standards of the Egyptian Health Council.

•   Failure to comply with continuing professional development requirements: Failure by a participant in the continuing professional development programme to accumulate at least 250 accredited hours spread over a minimum of three years by the end of the five-year cycle designated for the renewal of their licence to practise.

•  The relevant sub-committee: This is a committee established by the Higher Committee for Continuing Professional Development in Human Medicine, pursuant to a decision of the Board of Directors. Its role is to consider applications referred to it within its remit and to submit them to the Higher Committee, which in turn submits its recommendation to the Board of Directors for action.

•  Governing texts: Law No. 12 of 2022 on the Establishment and Organisation of the Egyptian Health Council and its implementing regulations issued by Prime Ministerial Decree No. 3798 of 2023, as well as relevant laws and decrees, and decisions issued by the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Health Council.

Registration requirements for doctors seeking to be registered for the first time with the Egyptian Health Council and the Ministry of Health and Population: -

•   Successful completion of the registration procedures for the National Examination for the Practice of Medicine (EMLE) is sufficient for registration with the Egyptian Health Council; successful candidates must then complete the procedures for obtaining a licence to practise from the relevant authority within the Ministry of Health and Population.

•   In the case of a non-Egyptian doctor applying “upon arrival to enrol in postgraduate studies”: the rules governing the Central Administration of Non-Governmental Healthcare Institutions and Licensing shall be followed when issuing a licence to practise for non-Egyptian doctors.

•   The Egyptian Health Council shall forward the following requirements, once completed electronically, to the licensing authorities:

1. 1. Certificate of passing the National Examination: The National Examination for the Practice of Medicine (EMLE) is conducted to assess the level of medical knowledge among doctors applying for the first time.
   2. The doctor must provide the licensing authority with evidence of having completed basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training from an organisation accredited by the Egyptian Health Council or an organisation affiliated with the Supreme Council of University Hospitals.

Licences are renewed by the licensing authorities upon fulfilment of the following requirements:

• General requirements for all doctors:

1. A certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from an organisation accredited by the Egyptian Health Council.
2. Certificate of completion of a training course in quality and accreditation of healthcare institutions from the General Authority for Health Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR).
3. A self-development form to be completed by the doctor, in accordance with the template prepared for this purpose by the Egyptian Health Council,

 (Plan of Personal Development), to outline the doctor’s personal plan for professional development; for the committee to review some of the doctors’ applications, the form must be completed with the approval of the Egyptian Health Council.

• Special requirements according to specialisms for specialists and consultants; in lieu of the Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate:

•  ’s requirements for specialists and consultants in internal medicine: a certificate from an organisation accredited by the Egyptian Health Council confirming completion of the Advanced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ACPR) course.

• Requirements for specialists and consultants in surgical specialities: A certificate from an organisation accredited by the Egyptian Health Council confirming completion of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course.

These activities include the following: -

• Group learning activities:

‣   Face-to-face educational event: This is an educational activity whose primary aim is to provide educational material to medical practitioners. It requires participants to be present at the event venue or to connect remotely via various means of communication. Examples include conferences, courses, workshops, lectures, seminars, journal clubs, training sessions and others.

Note: Webinars must not exceed 50% of the total accredited hours required to fulfil the conditions for continuing professional development, or 75% for those working in remote regions.

 ‣  Blended learning: an approach to education that combines online learning materials with traditional, face-to-face classroom methods. Blended learning requires the physical presence of both the teacher and the student, whilst allowing the student some control over time, place, path or pace. The programme must be accredited by the Egyptian Health Council for all its components, whether face-to-face or virtual.

‣   Webinar: An educational event broadcast live online, through which attendance can be verified and participants can engage in Q&A sessions, provided that all trainers are accredited by the Egyptian Health Council.

Group learning activities include the following:

• Conferences and workshops:

• International conferences: These are global, continental and regional conferences held either within or outside Egypt, and approved by the Egyptian Health Council or a body recognised by the Egyptian Health Council, provided that the conference meets the following conditions:

1. The researchers participating in the conference must be both Egyptian and foreign.
2. The scientific committee must include foreign members alongside Egyptian members.
3. When selecting the peer review committee, care must be taken to ensure that at least one member holds the rank of Assistant Professor.
4. The conference must have a scientific website in both Arabic and English, on which all scientific activities included in the conference programme and the fees for scientific or research participation, for both Egyptians and foreigners, are announced.
5. All papers submitted to the conference must be sent via the website, with all conditions for the submission and evaluation of papers met by the Scientific Committee on the website.

• Specialised local conferences: These are local conferences focusing on a single medical speciality, featuring Egyptian speakers and accredited by the Egyptian Health Council. It is a requirement that the research papers presented at such conferences be peer-reviewed by their scientific committees, and that their abstracts be included in the conference proceedings.

• Non-specialised local conferences: These are local conferences covering more than one branch of medicine, featuring Egyptian speakers and accredited by the Egyptian Health Council. It is a requirement that the research presented at these conferences be peer-reviewed by their scientific committees, and that abstracts be included in the conference proceedings.

• International workshops: These are workshops delivered by foreign speakers and accredited by the Egyptian Health Council, or by a body recognised by the Egyptian Health Council.

• Local workshops: These are workshops delivered by Egyptian speakers and approved by the Egyptian Health Council, or a body recognised by the Egyptian Health Council.

• Self-directed learning activities:

1. Activities accredited within accredited professional education and training programmes leading to qualifications:

A specified number of hours within the training programme associated with a Master’s degree, PhD, board certification, fellowship, or higher professional diploma in a specific discipline. It is a requirement that the professional training activity be accredited and clearly defined (in terms of requirements, learning methodology and curriculum) within the period specified in the regulations for the qualification. If the specified training period exceeds the duration set out in the regulations, the required hours of continuing professional development must be completed through other types of professional development activities.

2. E-learning materials:

This is a form of education that uses electronic technologies to access continuous educational content at a time convenient to the learner. In most cases, it refers to a course or programme delivered online, provided that it complies with the general conditions for continuing professional development (such as Coursera, LinkedIn and other e-learning platforms).

3. Blended learning:

     This is an educational programme that combines compulsory participation in a ‘face-to-face educational event’ with the completion of the associated e-learning component, provided that the programme is accredited by the Egyptian Health Council for all its components, whether face-to-face or virtual (such as medical courses comprising theoretical and practical components, divided into a virtual part and a face-to-face part).

4. Guided professional reading:

    This is a specific type of e-learning that can also be delivered in printed form. It involves reading medical articles or medical books and engaging with appropriate medical materials that have been prepared for educational purposes and contain questions that the practitioner must answer as evidence of learning. The applicant’s progress may be discussed with a specialist to verify learning outcomes in the absence of an exam result or certificate of completion (such as reference articles approved by continuing professional development bodies in medical journals).

5. Scientific publication, peer review and contribution to the development of clinical practice guidelines:

  such as publication in scientific journals, peer review of a published article, co-authorship of a chapter or book in the specialism published by     a recognised international or local publisher, participation in the development of clinical practice guidelines, or acceptance of a lecture or research paper presented at an event accredited by the Egyptian Health Council, In all cases, the committee reserves the right to verify, by whatever means it deems appropriate, that the activity is of high educational value.

• Assessment activities:

‣   Academic and professional examinations: Participation in academic examination boards for programmes accredited by the Supreme Council of Universities and professional examinations accredited by the Egyptian Health Council or the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation.

‣   Self-assessment, quality and accreditation activities: aimed at improving patient care through self-assessment of working methods, peer review against external standards and evaluation of discrepancies, developing strategies to improve day-to-day operations, testing new strategies, and sharing scientific expertise and findings, such as quality programmes overseen by the General Authority for Accreditation and Health Supervision and the National Authority for Quality Assurance in Education.

• Activities not eligible for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points accreditation:

- Activities submitted for accreditation during or after their occurrence.

- If it turns out that the lecturer is not specialized or qualified in the topics of the lectures or lacks sufficient experience.

- Preparatory programs for academic, Egyptian, Arab, or international professional certificates.

- Regular morning meetings and patient rounds.

- Internal department meetings, case discussions, and activities directed at the public.

- Community and patient awareness sessions.

- Sponsored scientific sessions with promotional nature.

Organisations eligible to apply for accreditation:

• Any entity or organisation with a regular and recurring programme of continuing professional development activities in the field of human medicine is eligible to apply for accreditation, provided that it has no commercial interest. In cases where the content, teaching staff or coordination are influenced by sponsors, or where there is a conflict of commercial interest, such applications will not be considered.
• Accreditation of institutions offering CPD activities is valid for four calendar years, after which it is renewed following an update and review on each occasion, provided that the accreditation renewal documents (if renewal is desired) are submitted at least six months prior to expiry.   

• Entities wishing to apply for accreditation from the Higher Committee for Continuing Professional Development in Human Medicine at the Egyptian Health Council must meet the following requirements:

1.   The entity, organisation or institution must be legally recognised; examples include:

-   Higher education institutions and other bodies awarding vocational education and training qualifications (medical faculties at Egyptian universities, Al-Azhar University, the Armed Forces and the police).

-   Government bodies.

-   Medical associations.

-   Healthcare facilities (hospitals, departments, medical centres, etc.).

-   Companies specialising in providing continuing professional development services, provided the necessary documentation is available from the relevant authorities.

-   Non-profit organisations and bodies working in the field of healthcare and continuing professional development, provided the necessary documentation is available from the relevant authorities.

2.    The applicant must have sufficient educational experience in the development and management of ‘continuing professional development’ activities.

3.  Availability of a venue for each activity: approved by the Higher Committee for Continuing Professional Development in Human Medicine at the Egyptian Health Council.

4.  The applicant organisation must have accredited trainers for the CPD activity

1. Submission of at least one training programme for programme accreditation.
2. Passing the inspection and review: The Committee conducts an inspection and review of the applicant organisation to ensure compliance with the provisions on continuing professional development set out in these rules and standards.

•  Some of the requirements that must be met for the accreditation of private training centres and training centres affiliated with non-profit (civil society) organisations in the field of human medicine are as follows:

1. The Board of Directors must comprise at least 40% doctors
2. The centre’s scientific board for the specialism of human medicine must comprise members who have held a PhD or board certification for at least five years.
3. The company must either own the training centre or lease it under a notarised contract for a minimum of five years. (A period longer than the duration of institutional accreditation)

• Conditions and criteria for the accreditation of the private training centre, with reference to the standards set out in the Egyptian Code for Medical Facilities issued by the National Centre for Housing and Building Research:

• The Ministry of Labour licence must specify the type of activity (professional medical training)

• Architectural requirements:

1. Space in training rooms: 2 square metres per person
2. Space in laboratories: 3 square metres per person
3. Ventilation and lighting: air conditioning in every room
4. Circulation routes: Corridor width of at least 1.8 metres
5. Lifts and ramps for people with special needs.
6. The ground floor is recommended and preferred as a training centre.
7. If there is a second floor or more: lifts must be provided to accommodate people with special needs, and the number of lifts must be proportionate to the number of trainees in each course.
8. Soundproofing: Mandatory.
9. A single hall in the training centre is not sufficient; the minimum requirement for accreditation is two halls.

• The largest hall must be no less than 50 square metres
• The smaller hall must be no less than 25 square metres
• These must be accompanied by a meeting room and an administrative office of at least 20 square metres.

• Electromechanical requirements:

1. Back-up generator.
2. Early warning fire alarm systems.
3. Firefighting: Automatic sprinklers are mandatory for laboratories.

• Fire extinguishers distributed according to the area and type of specialisation.

• Health requirements:

1. Separation of sanitary drainage systems from medical drainage
2. A contract must be in place with a company specialising in the collection and handling of medical waste (including liquids)
3. Separate toilets for men and women, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities and in accordance with health requirements (one toilet for every ten trainees)
4. Laboratories: Specialised extraction and ventilation systems for handling chemical and biological materials.

• Additional considerations:

1. Evacuation plan: Mandatory, with emergency exits allowing for the safe evacuation of people with special needs, and annual training for centre staff (documented simulation training annually) or when new staff join the centre

•  Illuminated emergency signage
• The evacuation plan must be displayed and posted on the wall in a clearly visible location, with assembly points clearly indicated
• There must be at least two centre staff members who are responsible for and trained in the evacuation plan at the time of training sessions.
• Trainees must be briefed on the evacuation plan by the staff responsible for the plan before the start of any training session.

2. Sustainability: Encourage the use of energy- and water-saving systems, whilst ensuring compliance with green healthcare facility standards.
3. Universal Access:

• A guide at the building entrance (reception staff aware of ongoing activities)

When applying for accreditation from the Egyptian Health Council, full transparency must be ensured regarding the following:

1. Company capital
2. Operating capital

These must be submitted, signed and audited by a financial auditor on behalf of the company applying for accreditation.

The training centre’s location must be easily accessible by public transport.

Accreditation for CPD activity trainers is valid for four Gregorian years, and renewal is possible after updating and reviewing each time by the committee.

The following conditions must be met by trainers to be accredited by the Egyptian Health Council:

1. Hold a professional license (if required for practicing their profession).
2. Hold a higher degree in the specialty in which they provide training, and a Ph.D. degree in case of training for a specialized medical program.
3. Hold a Master's degree, Egyptian fellowship, or any equivalent certificates, provided they have completed a trainer qualification course (TOT) accredited by the Egyptian Health Council.
4. Submit a curriculum vitae accompanied by scientific and training experiences in the field they are applying for.

Steps for Accreditation of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Activities:

Entities accredited as providers of CPD activities are required to prepare a comprehensive electronic and printed file for each activity in the field of human medicine, to be submitted for accreditation to the Egyptian Health Council, according to the prepared templates by the committee, indicating:

1- Pre-Activity Commitments:

1. Providing a brief description of the presenting entity/institution for the activity, along with its accreditation number from the Egyptian Health Council.
2. Submitting the names, qualifications, and positions of the trainers and their accreditation status by the Egyptian Health Council.
3. Providing contact information for all members of the scientific committee responsible for organizing the activity (email - phone), ensuring that this person is not an employee of the commercial sponsor or educational company of the activity, if any.
4. Providing detailed information about the duration of direct educational activity, the intended training objectives, participant and program evaluation methods.
5. Specifying methods for monitoring participant attendance during the activity.
6. Acknowledging that program promotion will only be done with written approval from the Egyptian Health Council, in case of program accreditation.
7. Submitting written statements about any conflicts of interest for all members of the scientific committee and trainers.
8. Stakeholders must be excluded from preparing the scientific program, and no representatives of sponsors are allowed to participate in program design or teaching.
9. Providing a declaration indicating that the CPD program is non-promotional, and that the supporting commercial entity (if any) will not interfere in the design or implementation of this program.

2- Commitments During Activity Execution:

   - Adhering to the rules of commercial support and sponsorship, program activity booklet, website, exhibition if any, as specified in these rules and standards.

   - Registering attendance names and maintaining attendance records and evaluation forms for the activity.

   - The entity providing CPD programs and activities is allowed to use the Egyptian Health Council accreditation logo on materials related to the activity after issuing the accreditation document, provided that no commercial logo accompanies it.

   - The logo cannot be used in notifications, advertisements, or promotions for any other activities other than those specified in the Egyptian Health Council accreditation document, and this accreditation cannot be transferred to any other activity.

3-Post-Activity Commitments:

The documents related to the activity must be submitted to the Egyptian Health Council within thirty days of the activity's completion, including:

- A copy of the activity program booklet.

- A list of attendees and their email addresses.

- A copy of the attendance certificate (consistent with the proposed version on the Egyptian Health Council website) for both trainees and trainers, along with any other certificates (such as appreciation certificates), ensuring no commercial logos are used.

- Evaluation feedback forms from participants, including the extent to which educational objectives were met.

- Submission of a summary report on the activity, outlining any shortcomings encountered.

- Activity documents must be retained for four years and provided to the Egyptian Health Council upon request.

4- Conditions for Commercial Support and Sponsorship:

- Educational materials, presenters, and course content should be selected based on the educational needs of human physicians, unaffected by commercial sponsors.

- All educational materials must be free from any form of advertising, bias towards a service, product, treatment, or specific company.

- Scientific names should be used instead of brand names in all educational materials and lectures.

- Scientific materials included in the activity should provide a balanced view of all available therapeutic alternatives rather than being limited to a specific choice.

- Acknowledgment of commercial sponsorship is only permitted if the commercial sponsor contributed to the educational program through a grant without specifically mentioning commercial products or services.

- For sponsored symposia, details (title, presenters, sessions, sponsoring entities, etc.) should be published in a separate section after the scientific program.

- Clear distinction must be made between all advertising materials (including exhibitor lists) and educational and scientific components of the program, and they should be identified separately.

If the support is in the form of materials or tools used for practical workshops (such as equipment, supplies, surgical tools, etc.), providers of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs must include a statement in the program to inform participants of similar tools that can be used, different from those available in the activity.

5- Conditions for Activity Program Booklet:

- Company names and advertisements should not appear alongside scientific and educational information.

- The activity program booklet must contain a section with all educational and scientific information (such as: president's message, invitation, scope of the activity, organizing committee and scientific committees, list of speakers, scientific program, etc.), and a separate section for all other information (such as registration, website, and sponsor names).

- Acknowledgment of sponsors should be limited to one page in the activity program booklet.

- Commercial advertisements or sponsor names should not be published in the vicinity of the Egyptian Health Council accreditation document for the activity or on the second page (direct cover) and within the first section (educational/scientific information) of the program booklet.

- Logos and sponsor names should not be placed on the front cover of the program booklet.

6- Conditions for Activity Website:

- Industry names/logos should not appear alongside educational and scientific information.

- Sponsor logos, names, and advertisements should not appear on the homepage or on any pages containing scientific or professional information and should be placed under a separate tab dedicated to sponsors.

- No commercial logos should be present in the Egyptian Health Council accreditation document for the activity.

7- Exhibition Conditions:

- If the CPD activity includes a trade exhibition, exhibition arrangements should not affect the planning or interfere with the educational materials provided.

- Representatives of commercial interests should not engage in promotional activities or sales during the scientific activity.

- Commercial displays (such as banners displaying product names or awards) should not be placed inside educational or training activity halls.

- Support/sponsorship announcements may be presented by the relevant commercial entity in pre-activity advertisements, including the use of the commercial entity's logo.

- No product or medication advertisements should appear on any written materials (such as preliminary or final programs, booklets, or pre-event notifications) for the activity.

8- Conditions for the accreditation of professional diplomas: 
●    Only diplomas issued by the Supreme Council of Universities, the General Authority for Educational Institutes and Hospitals, the Military Medical Academy, or Al-Azhar Universities shall be recognised. 
●    Should any body wish to accredit a professional diploma, this must be based on a cooperation protocol with a state university, the General Authority for Educational Institutes and Hospitals, the Military Medical Academy or Al-Azhar Universities, provided that the practical component of the diploma takes place at one of the aforementioned bodies and that the diploma is supervised by the teaching staff of the aforementioned participating body.

1. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Accreditation Certificate issued by the service provider: - CPD certificates must include the following:

1. Trainee's name, program provider's name, program name, date, time, and location of the program, and the number of accredited points.
2. Signature of the course supervisor and the scientific supervisor representing the organizing scientific committee.
3. Date and validity period of accreditation and the accreditation logo of the Egyptian Health Council.
4. Number of accredited CPD points for trainees and speakers, and the accreditation number from the Egyptian Health Council.

• Service providers of continuous professional development activities may issue other certificates, subject to committee approval, besides CPD certificates (e.g., appreciation certificates), provided they are not used as commercial logos.

2. Accreditation Certificate from an Entity or Institution to Provide Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programs issued by the Egyptian Health Council:

- The accreditation certificate from an entity or institution to provide CPD programs includes the name of the entity, its legal representative before the Egyptian Health Council, the title of the accredited program(s), accreditation number, and date of validity. The certificate also includes the logo and accreditation of the Egyptian Health Council.

3. Trainer Accreditation Certificate for CPD Program issued by the Egyptian Health Council:

- The trainer accreditation certificate for CPD programs includes the trainer's name, the accredited institution under the Egyptian Health Council, the date of accreditation validity, the trainer's signature, and the logo of the Egyptian Health Council.

- The Egyptian Health Council enables the issuance of a certificate indicating the number of training hours and the content of the training for registered physicians with the Egyptian Health Council upon request. This certificate includes training activities up to the date of its issuance by the Council.

In order to ensure quality and compliance with the provisions outlined in these rules and standards, the committee or designated individuals may conduct random sampling of files for activities submitted by applicants for the renewal of professional practice licenses, or perform inspections of the standards of continuous professional development (CPD) activities submitted for accreditation, or examine the accreditation data of trainers or files of entities providing CPD services that are accredited by them, without prior notice. 

- The committee has the right to request discussions with applicants for license renewal, trainers, or providers of CPD activities, in order to verify the accuracy of the submitted data or to dispatch monitors for the activities and events, and to use all available means to ensure the most comprehensive examination and review process.

- The Egyptian Health Council will provide a service to respond to inquiries regarding "Continuous Professional Development" activities through its official website.

In case of violations or breaches, the Egyptian Health Council has the right to cancel, suspend, or revoke the accreditation of current or future programs or activities organized by any provider of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs. This includes the cancellation, suspension, or revocation of accreditation for activity providers, trainers, and other measures as determined according to the nature of each violation or breach. These actions may extend to prohibiting future dealings with the violator and other measures prescribed by the competent authority of the council (e.g., publication on the official website of violations and decisions taken against them), for those engaged in planning or conducting CPD activities that are not in compliance with these pre-established rules and standards.

CPD activity providers also have the right to submit their grievances in writing regarding the violation addressed to them within one month of being notified, and the decision regarding this violation.

• Description of Violations:
• Submitting forged or false data in the accreditation application.
• Violation of the provisions of these rules regarding advertising CPD activities.
• Violation of the provisions of these rules regarding program planning, design, or execution.
• Issuing CPD activity certificates that do not comply with the council's accreditation rules.
• Providing attendance certificates for CPD activities to individuals who did not attend the activity.
• Failure to submit CPD activity documents within thirty days after its completion.

• Complaints and appeals must be submitted in writing to the relevant subcommittee of the Council, signed by the applicant—whether the trainee, trainer or provider of the “continuing professional development” activity—and supported by documentation relating to the subject of the complaint.
• Complaints or appeals will only be considered once a response has been received from the relevant committee regarding the subject of the appeal and the status of the complainant, within one month of the date on which the complaint or appeal was lodged, and a decision must be reached without delay.

Members of the higher committee for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for human medicine are prohibited, individually or collectively, from establishing, managing, or supervising entities providing training for the purpose of CPD.

• The fees specified in Article No. (38) of the Prime Minister's Decision No. (3798) of 2023, regarding the issuance of the executive regulations of the law establishing and regulating the Egyptian Health Council issued by Law No. (12) of 2022, are applied.
• Unless otherwise specified in the referenced decision, administrative expenses for the activities carried out by the higher committee for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for human medicine are determined as outlined in the attached table, by a decision of the board of directors, and subject to the procedures prescribed in this regard.
• Fee schedules attached to the executive regulations of the law establishing and regulating the Egyptian Health Council issued by Law No. 12 of 2022.
• The attached table specifies the administrative expenses for the activities performed by the committee:

• Professional Certificate Accreditation Fees:

• Accreditation Fees for Continuous Health and Professional Training Programs:

• Accreditation Fees for Training Facilities:

The board of directors may amend some provisions of these general rules and standards or add new provisions, if necessary, based on a recommendation proposed by the higher committee. This proposal shall be submitted and approved by the board of directors for approval of the amendment or addition.