HEALTH Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) registrar and chief executive officer Bwembya Bwalya has announced the reintroduction of licensure examinations for health practitioners which were put on hold in 2019.
In a statement, Thursday, Bwalya said passing licensure examinations would be a prerequisite for fresh graduates to be on the HPCZ register in their respective health professions.
“In an effort to continue assuring provision of quality healthcare services, HPCZ in consultation with relevant stakeholders has seen the need to revisit mechanisms that help ascertain professional competencies of health practitioners before they are registered and certified to practice in any health facility in the Country. In this vein, the Health Professions Council of Zambia announces the reintroduction of licensure examinations which were put on hold in February 2019. Passing licensure examinations will be a prerequisite for fresh graduates to be on the HPCZ register in their respective health professions,” he said.
Bwalya said the licensure examinations were planned to commence in the third quarter of 2022.
“The licensure examinations are planned to commence in the third quarter of 2022. Consequently, stakeholders will be informed in due course about the (roadmap) schedules and other details relating to how the exercise will be conducted. Utmost gratitude goes to our parent ministry- the Ministry of Health and Health Professional Associations for remaining committed to quality assurance in the health sector and supporting the reintroduction of licensure examinations,” he said.
Bwalya said HPCZ’s aspiration was to ensure that health practitioners providing healthcare services to the public possessed the necessary knowledge and competencies required.
“The Health Professions Council of Zambia’s aspiration is to ensure that health practitioners providing healthcare services to the public possess the necessary knowledge and competencies required. HPCZ looks forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders for successful implementation of the reintroduced licensure examinations,” said Bwalya.
