Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The practice of medicine has always been a big area of interest as a profession. The focus ranges depending on issues at hand - it may be on the educational, training, humanistic, economic, professional ethics and legal aspects. One area of medicine that is under the spotlight around the world is that of the maintenance of clinical competency, followed very closely and almost linked to professional ethics. This study follows the introduction of a system of Continuing Professional Development (hereinafter also referred to as CPD), in South Africa and an overview of how it has been introduced in a few other countries. The main areas of focus being the extrication of inherent values of CPD, relating this aspect to quality improvement in medical health care. The medical profession as well as most of the interested parties, has different perspectives regarding the fact that the system is regulated through legislation. There is also the doubt whether the CPD system will be effective in achieving the goals that it has been set to achieve. Although a system of Continuing Medical Education has been a tradition in all countries, which implies that the CPD system is not totally new as far as the educational principles are concerned, the values accruable need to be exploited. It is the possible success of this kind of evaluations that may foster more understanding of the inherent values in this CPD system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beroepsgewys het die praktyk van geneeskunde nog altyd groot belangstelling gelok. Die fokus verskuif na gelang van die onderwerpe ter sprake. Dit wissel van opvoedkunde, opleiding, humanisme, ekonomie, en professionele etiek tot regsaspekte. Dwarsoor die wêreld word daar gefokus op die handhawing van kliniese vaardighede, gevolg deur professionele etiek wat ook daarin verweef is. Hierdie studie bespreek die instelling van 'n stelsel van Voortgesette Professionele Ontwikkeling (hierna verwys na as VPO) in Suid-Afrika asook oorsig oor die wyse waarop dit in 'n paar ander lande ingestel is. Die klem lê op die inherente waardes met betrekking tot die verbetering gehalte in mediese gesondheidsorg. Die mediese beroep, asook meeste van die belangegroepe het verskillende opvattings oor die feit dat die stelsel deur wetgewing gereguleer word. Daar is ook twyfel of die VPO-stelsel in sy vooropgestelde doelwitte sal slaag. Wat die opvoedkundige beginsels betref, is die VPO-stelsel nie totaal en al nuut nie. Alhoewel VPO in ander lande tradisie is, is dit nodig om die totstandkoming van waardes te ontgin. Die moontlike sukses van hierdie tipe van evaluasies mag dalk beter begrip ten opsigte van die inherente waardes in die VPO-stelsel bevorder.