One of the key functions of MDPCZ in terms of Section 30 (1) of the Health Professions Act (Chapter 27:19) is to evaluate, monitor, enforce and improve the standards of Medical and Dental Education and Training in Zimbabwe from undergraduate through to postgraduate/ specialist training. To fulfill this function Council has the Education and Liaison Committee comprising of members from each professional association and representatives from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) College of Health Sciences.
UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING
Currently, the UZ College of Health Sciences is the only recognized institution that trains Medical and Dental Graduates. However, plans are underway to have a second medical school in Bulawayo at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The undergraduate students undergo a rigorous 5 year training period after which they will undertake compulsory internship.
ACCREDITATION
This is a compulsory supervised period [2 years for Medical Interns and 1 year for Dental Interns] in a Central Hospital or an approved Designated Health Institution so as to gain clinical experience. Internship training is an essential and indispensable component of the development of a young doctor. During the period interns are expected to develop professional values and advance their knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Internship training provides an environment for the intern to learn whilst providing services. This follows the principle of apprenticeship where the intern is a member of a team which is responsible for the care of acute medical outpatients and relevant procedures.
Medical internship
The first year interns do compulsory 6 monthly clinical rotations in medicine and surgery.
During the 2nd year the interns undertake compulsory 4 monthly clinical rotations in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a choice of either Anaesthetics or Psychiatry but not necessarily in their order.
Dental internship
Unlike Medical Practitioners, Dental Interns undertake one year of compulsory internship. Succesfulful completion of internship leads to one year of Government Dental Experience and during this period Dental Officers can apply for a limited private practising certificate. Upon completion of the Government Dental Experience, Dental Practitioners become eligible for an Open Practising Certificate.
Assessment of internship
During the internship period, interns are assessed against standards of competencies required. Using the internship logbook , interns are assessed their capabilities in dealing with patients in the fields of clerking, physical examination, carrying out relevant investigation, coming up with a working clinical diagnosis, coming up with a management/treatment plan, initializing treatments in line with the instruction from the supervising senior and preparation of some patients for specific specialized therapies.
In addition to these professional requirements the first year intern is also monitored on his/her relationships with regards to supervisors, peers, colleagues particularly nurses, administrative staff and patients.
Download the Internship Logbook [currently being reviewed by the Education and Liaison Committee]
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to education of Medical and Dental Practitioners following completion of formal training. Through CPD, members maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills so as to enhance personal qualities and professional competence required during their professional lives.
The current position on CPD is that all practitioners, including those on the Provisional Register, should accumulate at least 50 CPD points in a 12 month period. Practitioners who have been registered for less than a year will be expected to accumulate the points on a quarterly pro rata basis.
Fifty percent of the points, that is 25 points, should be accumulated from activities organized by the Accreditor body whose specialty or practice most closely fits that of the practitioner or organized inter-professional meetings where the Accreditor body is a main participant.
There is no carry over of points from one 12 month period to the next.
DESIGNATED HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
A Designated Health Institution is a hospital that has been granted permission to undertake some form of Medical /Dental training. Previously training in Zimbabwe was restricted to the 4 major Central Hospitals namely Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital, Harare Central Hospital , United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mpilo Hospital. Because of the desire to have all institutions involved in some form of training, Council has adopted the policy of decentralizing internship and specialist training.
Download application form for recognition as a DHI
DHI: INTERNSHIP TRAINING
The excessive numbers of interns at the traditional 4 training institutions has resulted in insufficient experience and supervision of the junior doctor. This therefore defeats the major objective of internship. To address this anomaly, Council has formulated a model /policy on the deployment of interns that will see interns being deployed to designated institutions such as Provincial Hospitals and Mission Hospitals.
DHI: SPECIALIST TRAINING
Currently being reviewed by the Education and Liaison Committee.
The following are the approved Accreditor Bodies:
- Association of Radiologists and Radiotherapists(download CPD form)
- Association of pathologists of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- College of Primary Care Physicians of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- College of Public Health Physicians of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- National Association of Physicians of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- Ophthalmological Society of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- Paediatric Association of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- Psychiatric Association of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- Provincial Medical Services(download CPD form)
- Surgical Society of Zimbabwe(download CPD form)
- Zimbabwe Anaesthetic Association(download CPD form)
- Zimbabwe Dental Association(download CPD form)
- Zimbabwe Society of Obstetric and Gynaecology(download CPD form)
- Zimbabwe Society of Otolaryngologists(download CPD form)
- Zimbabwe Medical Association (download CPD form)
NB. Please note that CPD forms are accreditor specific