By MILDRED KATONGO –
THE Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has said it will only offer practising licences to graduates that undergo its professional licentiate examinations and pass.
HPCZ public relations officer Terry Musonda said no graduate in the health sector will be offered a practising licence without having passed the approved HPCZ examinations.
Mr Musonda was responding to media reports quoting health science graduates that complaining that the HPCZ was taking advantage of the graduates by not offering them their practising licences.
He said the council had the responsibility to ensure the health professions were approved by the council and given the right to practice.
“As the council, we would like to put the record straight with regards to information circulating in the media pertaining to the health science graduates, where they are alleging that the council is taking them for granted by not giving them practising licences. The correct position is that HPCZ will only offer licences to graduates who write the council’s examination and pass,” he said.
Mr Musonda said prior to the HPCZ conducting the November and December professional licentiate examinations, the council engaged all the students and their respective institutions, with approved and recognised training programmes.
He said the council announced it was starting the professional examinations, to be undertaken by all wishing to acquire practising licences.