Top-up fee 'only fair way' to pay for CET

That was the message from the AOP and FODO at a meeting with optometry's regulatory body last week.
The bodies are unhappy with Act's winning tender proposal of providers funding the entire CET system, and said practitioners must also contribute. They fear smaller providers of CET events and courses are under threat as they do not have adequate budgets.
Administrating the system once it becomes compulsory for all practitioners will require significant amounts of money, as all claims for points have to be double-checked. They believe the 'only fair way' is to split the financing between practitioners Ð by adding on a set amount to the registration fee Ð and providers.
The profession's representatives reminded the GOC of its responsibility to provide a CET structure that was cost-effective.
The GOC is now reviewing the situation and considering the proposal. If it adopts the AOP/FODO payment scheme, the GOC may have to abandon its current agreement with Act and start the tendering process from scratch.
A decision will be made this month, ahead of the GOC meeting at the beginning of March.
'Funding crisis' see page 8.
samantha.daltonrbi.co.ukThe controversial issue of proposed fees for continuing education providers would be solved if the GOC raised the registration fee for optometrists.
That was the message from the AOP and FODO at a meeting with optometry's regulatory body last week.
The bodies are unhappy with Act's winning tender proposal of providers funding the entire CET system, and said practitioners must also contribute. They fear smaller providers of CET events and courses are under threat as they do not have adequate budgets.
Administrating the system once it becomes compulsory for all practitioners will require significant amounts of money, as all claims for points have to be double-checked. They believe the 'only fair way' is to split the financing between practitioners Ð by adding on a set amount to the registration fee Ð and providers.
The profession's representatives reminded the GOC of its responsibility to provide a CET structure that was cost-effective.
The GOC is now reviewing the situation and considering the proposal. If it adopts the AOP/FODO payment scheme, the GOC may have to abandon its current agreement with Act and start the tendering process from scratch.
A decision will be made this month, ahead of the GOC meeting at the beginning of March.
'Funding crisis' see page 8.
samantha.daltonrbi.co.ukThe controversial issue of proposed fees for continuing education providers would be solved if the GOC raised the registration fee for optometrists.
That was the message from the AOP and FODO at a meeting with optometry's regulatory body last week.
The bodies are unhappy with Act's winning tender proposal of providers funding the entire CET system, and said practitioners must also contribute. They fear smaller providers of CET events and courses are under threat as they do not have adequate budgets.
Administrating the system once it becomes compulsory for all practitioners will require significant amounts of money, as all claims for points have to be double-checked. They believe the 'only fair way' is to split the financing between practitioners Ð by adding on a set amount to the registration fee Ð and providers.
The profession's representatives reminded the GOC of its responsibility to provide a CET structure that was cost-effective.
The GOC is now reviewing the situation and considering the proposal. If it adopts the AOP/FODO payment scheme, the GOC may have to abandon its current agreement with Act and start the tendering process from scratch.
A decision will be made this month, ahead of the GOC meeting at the beginning of March.
'Funding crisis' see page 8.
samantha.daltonrbi.co.uk