Doctors, pharmacists meet in Byo History of the College of Primary Health Care Physicians
Doctors and pharmacists under the College of Primary Health Care Physicians of Zimbabwe CPCPZ and the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe (PSZ) respectively today convene in Bulawayo to discuss ways to improve quality healthcare service delivery and access to essential drugs in the country.
Running under the theme, “Ensuring access to quality healthcare services and essential medicines for all”, the three-day congress which ends on May 27 seeks to share ideas on how healthcare delivery in the country can be improved.
Mr Ralph Sagonda, convener of the PSZ and a pharmacist by profession said delivering quality healthcare and ensuring all Zimbabweans have access to essential drugs was of paramount importance.
“We’re gathering together to gain ideas and knowledge on how we can deliver quality healthcare services and essential drugs to everyone. When we took the oath at qualification, we vowed to serve the people of Zimbabwe. So this congress is to challenge and remind each other of what we promised to do, which is to ensure that every Zimbabwean has access to quality healthcare services,” said Mr Sagonda.
He said geographic location should not inhibit anyone from accessing quality healthcare services.
“If someone is in some remote part of Binga for example, they should still be able to access quality healthcare services. Patients should be able to access essential drugs prescribed by doctors. We need to find ways of ensuring patients access cheap drugs,” said Mr Sagonda.
Dr Cherifa Sururu, a member of the CCPCZ, said the congress is important as it will be a knowledge sharing platform between various members of the health sector.
He said the theme dovetails with Government’s thrust of providing health for all, pledging the organisation’s commitment to supporting the initiative.
We are committed to supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s mission to provide, administer coordinate, promote and advocate for the provision of equitable appropriate, accessible and affordable health care,” said Dr Sururu.
“We appreciate the government’s positive strides in promoting the health of the people. We are also trying to elevate our knowledge to what is happening in the world.
He said they endeavor to make private and public health services affordable and equally the same through improving health services in all sectors.
“We want to improve the health care in all sectors by making sure that at whatever point that you go, you get good care. Already we are trying to make health affordable. We will also make presentations on innovative financing systems in universal coverage. To try and promote health for all even those who are down there,” said Dr Sururu.
Dr Robbie Gibson, a Bulawayo general practitioner, who had earlier been Government medical officer at Nyamandhlovu, visited England in the middle 70s and was greatly impressed by the Royal College of General Practice and by the work of that, was being done in UK to encourage doctors to keep abreast of medical developments. Recognising that there was a dearth of such medical education back home, he returned to Bulawayo and immediately sought support from practitioners in this country to establish a similar project. Dr Gibson was a dedicated practitioner who had a powerful influence on the profession and it did not take him long to find enthusiasm among local doctors for the project.
The College minute book records that in December 1974 a meeting was held in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rhodesia “to discuss the possible formation of an academic organisation to improve the status of non- specialist medicine, by improving standards of practice, by encouraging continuing medical education and by seeking to attract young doctors to a career in general practice”. The guide lines were:
To encourage older General Practitioners to take pride in General Practice and to further their education.
To encourage younger doctors to enter the discipline and to make it a stimulating vocation.
To stimulate amongst General Practitioners a strong desire to their education, advance their skills and improve medicine through General Practice and suitably oriented research.
It is interesting to note that the matter was “highly confidential and in particular, not to be disclosed to the Rhodesia Medical Association”. (Dr Eric McNair, who passed away in England last year, called that there was an enormous outburst from specialist when news of a General Practitioner Association leaked out.)
This say the formation of the College of Primary Health Care Physicians of Zimbabwe.
Vision To develop Doctors to become family physicians through a recognised training program.
Mission The CPCPZ will train and prepare its members through an M-MED (Specialist Family Physician) program to increase their competencies through research and continuous professional development to improve patient care and satisfaction. Core Values Ethical Conduct, Health and Quality of life of communities, Visionary Leadership & Mentorship, Teamwork, Integrity, Commitment