HPCZ gets tough on discipline in the health sector

HPCZ Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka

MANY  a given times, during the end or beginning of the year, various institutions of learning from nursery, primary, secondary, college and university announce the recruitment of new learners.

And this is done through various media outlets be it radio, television or print, giving out the best offers their respective institutions of learning are ready to offer.

Therefore, in the quest to getting the best education for their siblings, some parents or guardians have ended up being disappointed after spending colossal sums of money.

It is for this same reason that the Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has decided to make an early warning to all parents or guardians to be on the lookout for nothing but genuine and authenticated or certified institutions of learning when it comes to the offer of health training.

HPCZ Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati is very optimistic and categorical that the exercise his Council has embarked on is meant to instill discipline in the health profession thereby raising the bar higher and to acceptable international standards.

He says the need for quality service delivery has to start with the genesis which is at recruitment stage of learners whom he says needed to be in possession of proper qualifications that are verified and certified by the Examination Council of Zambia.

“Before they apply, prospective students should make sure that they have certified qualifications required for different courses in the health profession. Even guardians or parents, they should help their children in making sure that they have the required qualification,” he says.

He also cautioned the would-be learners and guardians to the learners to be worry of fake institutions purporting to be offering courses in the field of health that they should endeavour to verify with the Council.

The HPCZ, in its latest public announcement, is alerting parents, would be students and the general public that it is an offence for any training institutions to offer health related training programmes without an approval and recognition certificate from HPCZ.

The Health Profession Act No. 24 of 2009 (iv) Section 32(1) of the Laws of Zambia provides that a training institution shall not provide training to prepare students for a health profession, unless the training programme is approved by the HPCZ.

“Parents and would-be students in particular and the general public are therefore advised not to be seeking any training services from training institutions that are not licensed by the HPCZ,” says Dr Mujajti.

He says parents and would-be students are also advised to cross-check with the HPCZ before enrolling for any health related training programmes at any training institutions adding that the action will not only prevent loss of time but also hard earned financial resources.

“Further, the HPCZ wishes to caution training institutions against enrolling would-be students who do not meet the admission criteria for various health related training programmes,” he says.

He further says some schools tend to have lecturers who are not qualified to take classes, for instance, a person with a diploma cannot take up a class offering a degree course, describing such an act as criminal.

Dr Mujajti is however, encouraging all training institutions offering approved health training programmes to follow the prescribed admission criteria.

He says failure to complying with the laid down provision, will be recipe for facing disciplinary action including prosecution before the courts of law.

“The HPCZ further wishes to alert the parents, would-be students and the general public seeking training services to be demanding for valid 2018 recognised and approved HPCZ certificate,” he says.

Armed with the mandate of providing quality health care Dr Mujajati says the Council will remain committed to “Promoting Quality Healthcare and Safeguarding Public Safety, as its Prime Concern.”