GA²LEN ADCARE – RESPONDING TO THE NEED FOR ONGOING EDUCATION IN ATOPIC DERMATITIS FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS GLOBALLY AND CURRENTLY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Effective continuing education in dermatology for healthcare providers can be supported by various measures such as literature, webinars, online tools and lectures. The Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) has developed a compact training programme on allergic diseases, including but not limited to atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, allergic rhinitis, asthma, pruritus, angioedema, urticaria and anaphylaxis and food allergy. In this article we present the impact of and argue for the continuing need for GA2LEN training programmes on the basis of a review of data from the past six global educational programmes. These data indicate the efficacy of ongoing education and the updating of healthcare professionals’ knowledge and the need for continuing education in South Africa.