Press Statement Dated : 9th November, 2018.

Copperbelt University- CBU in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province has been ordered to immediately discontinue offering two (2) programmes at its School of Medicine for failure to meet set standards in accordance with the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia. The Health Professions Council of Zambia- HPCZ has withdrawn recognition and approval of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery after a recent compliance monitoring inspection revealed gross over-enrollment of students, an inadequate number of lecturers, engaging unregistered and unlicensed lecturers that are health practitioners and failure to index students.

In the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme, the University overenrolled by 494 students bringing the total number pursuing this programme to 794. The lecturer-student ratios therefore, exceed the recommended 1 to 50 for theory for students in Clinical years 3 to 5 and the practical ratios of 1 to 10 for students in both the foundation and Clinical years. Additionally, all the 794 students are not indexed with HPCZ. Another major finding is the lack of lecturers in several courses including Psychology, Histology, Pathology and Body Dysfunction.

Click here for more details.

Press Statement Dated : Tuesday 13th November 2018.

The Health Professions Council of Zambia has confirmed receipt of a complaint from the public on the alleged violation of patients’ right to privacy and confidentiality who were attending Anti-Retro Viral Treatment (ART) session conducted by Mr. Mwansa Chalwe, Clinical Officer General holder of license number HPCZ 10/2/14/06491 working at Nansenga Clinic in Itezhi-tezi, Central Province.

It is alleged that Mr. Mwansa Chalwe, posted pictures of clients (Patients) during an ART session on his Facebook page which violated their privacy and confidentiality. The alleged action by the Clinical Officer General was unethical and a professional misconduct.
Mr. Chalwe has since been served with a letter of suspension of his practicing license while HPCZ conducts further investigations into the matter.

Click here for  more details.

Press Statement Dated : 15th November 2018.

LUSAKA – Following exhaustive consultation and guidance from the Attorney General’s Chambers and relevant stakeholders on the legal mandate of Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) and Higher Education Authority (HEA) regarding the regulation of health training programmes at training institutions, we wish to jointly clarify the position as follows:

1. Both Health Professions Council (HPCZ) and Higher Education Authority (HEA) have come to a common understanding that there are deficiencies in the Bachelor of medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery Programmes being offered at the Copperbelt University (CBU).

2. CBU must develop an improvement plan which will address deficiencies that were observed by both HPCZ and HEA.

3. HPCZ and HEA are statutory bodies established by two separate Acts of Parliament, meaning that the two are independent bodies with interest of ensuring quality education of health professionals.

4. The withdrawal of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programmes at the Copperbelt University School of Medicine by HPCZ was in line with the law as enshrined in the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia.

Click here for more details.

Press Statement Dated: 5th December, 2018

The Health Professions Council of Zambia(HPCZ) is through this statement formally announcing the reinstatement of the two previously withdrawn medical training programmes at the Copperbelt University’s Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine in Ndola.The reinstated training programmes are Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery(MBCHB), and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

Following the withdrawal of the aforementioned programmes the Council acknowledges the efforts to correct the areas of want and or infringements by the training institution and is hereby reinstating the two named programmes.

This decision from HPCZ comes after CBU met the minimum prerequisites and committed to agreed rectification road map to continue addressing all remaining recommendations.

HPCZ takes this opportunity to thank the Copperbelt University, students, parents,sponsors,regulators,all key stakeholders and the general public for the support rendered.

Issued By Public Relations Unit.

Chinyota Msimuko
Senior Public Relations Officer