Healthcare City to offer USMLE Step 3

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DHCC claims it will be the first body to offer Steps 3 outside the USA.

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)'s regulatory arm, the Centre for Health Care Planning and Quality (CPQ), has been granted permission to conduct Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in Dubai. Although Steps 1 and 2 are offered in several countries, DHCC claims this is the first time the examination will have been conducted outside the United States.

USMLE's Composite Governing Board, The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) have all given their approval for the move. "We are pleased to offer the USMLE examinations in collaboration with the National Boards of Medical Examiners," Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, CEO of DHCC, said. "This examination, with its tough criteria, will raise the quality of healthcare personnel in the UAE and the region by standardising the entry of such professionals."

The USMLE has authorised CPQ to allow candidates who have passed Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) to take Step 3 without the usual criteria of having to clear the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) and/or having to obtain the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates' (ECFMG) certification. ECFMG Certification is required before appearing for Step 3 of the USMLE in the United States. However, candidates seeking the CPQ license will be exempted from this requirement.

"Offering the examination in Dubai will facilitate the procedure of selecting high quality medical professionals in the region," said Ahmed Sharaf, senior VP, healthcare and energy, Tatweer. "This will help raise healthcare standards and increase the number of accredited physicians."

The examination will be conducted by CPQ in the second quarter of 2008.

In addition, the NBME will also develop examinations for CPQ in core specialties such as internal medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and genecology, paediatrics, general surgery and, at a later date, sub speciality exams. These exams will be developed in affiliation with the American speciality boards and their societies. Testing centres will be located at the Dubai Healthcare City, and internationally recognised examination centres.

CPQ is a regulatory body established as a joint initiative by DHCC and its strategic partner Harvard Medical International (HMI). It ensures high-quality patient care throughout the zone, besides offering tools and measures to healthcare providers to drive continuous improvement in the sector.

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