HPCZ HAILED FOR HEALTH PRACTITIONERS’ LICENTIATE EXAMINATIONS

THE re-introduction of licentiate examinations for fresh graduates from health institutions will as sure quality and hence the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) must be commended for the deci sion, Green party president, Peter Sinkamba, has said.

In an interview Mr. Sinkamba observed that the health professionals’ com petence must be ascertained before they embark on public practice because their profes sion hinges on people’s life.

He was commenting on a letter allegedly written to HPCZ by Nsapato and Company advocates of Lusaka who are representing the Residents Doctors of Zambia (RDAZ) and the University of Zambia Students Union, Ridgeway campus. The indi cated that HPCZ’s decision to re-introduce the examinations was illegal and as such must not proceed or risk facing le gal action.

The opposition leader in sisted that the health pro fession was threatened with substandard practice owing to the mushrooming of many health training institutions in the country.

He said that the licentiate examinations would help to ascertain the level of compe tence of the graduates who must meet a set benchmark.

He wondered why this would be unfair to the health profession when it is the stan dard practice with lawyers.

Mr. Sinkamba said that the health professionals must ac tually see this as a progressive idea that was meant to raise the standards in the profes sion. He therefore advised RDAZ to reflect on its actions in the interest of the public who may be subjected to be ing handled by incompetent personnel if the licensing practice is not fine-tuned.

“Health professionals are not like any other profession. They deal with life and as such the public must be protected from possible malpractice and these examinations are one way of protecting the lives of the public,” he said.

The Green party president further advised RDAZ to en sure that it exhausts all exist ing appeal channels before resorting to the media or tak ing any other action. He said that there were many avenues through which such matters can be handled and arbitra tion was the last resort.