Govt sets new standards for health training institutions

By Agnes Nantambi  

The Education Ministry in conjunction with the Health ministry has formulated new basic requirements and minimum standards (BRMS) for establishing health training institutions in the country.

The standards will also be followed in licensing, registering and accrediting of all health training institutions.

Speaking during the launch of the standards at Hotel Africana, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, in a speech read for him by the minister in charge of General Duties Tarsis Kabwegyere, observed the need for collective efforts to strengthen the quality of training human resource for health (HRHT) in the country.

"Ensuring quality of training for health workers is a global priority especially with the growing societal dynamism, technological advancements, re-emerging communicable and escalating non- communicable diseases, calling for changes in the need for goods and services.

(L - R) Mukaakalisa Kataratambi, chairperson of the nurses and midwifery examinations board; Education Minister Jesca Alupo and Prof Tarsis Kabwejere, the minister in charge of general duties during the launch of the new health tranining institutions standards. PHOTO/Agnes Nantambi 

Under the new BRMS, establishing a health training institution (HTI), the proprietor has to seek advice regarding the intentions to start a specified HTI in a specific location, and secure recommendation in writing from at least three persons of integrity.

The proprietor will have to present a written approval to the PS of the ministry of education seeking for licensing.

The proprietor will go ahead to fill in the registration form with 3 pre- registration reports attached and then accreditation can be awarded to HTI by different bodies within their jurisdiction and finally, the re-validation will be done by the Instituted Multi-sectoral Interdisciplinary committee (MIC) following the procedures for vetting the institution.

Rugunda observed that the shortage and less qualified workforce in all health domains are challenges that make quality and effectiveness of training very critical.

He noted that the fact that government has an obligatory role in quality assurance at all levels of training; the private sector has to be guided to ensure that they supplement government's efforts in addressing challenges in human resource for health within the framework and stipulated standards of performance.

"The standards should be made known and accessible to the general public, clients and supervisors and this is a joint responsibility of the education and the health sectors, "he directed.

The clinical managerial, specifications and procedural standards need to be set, disseminated with enforcement systems that guarantee compliance to the set standards right from the input, "he added.

"We look forward to continued harmony between health and education ministries and stake holders in enhancing quality of human resource for health in this country, "he emphasized.

The minister for Education, Jessica Alupo during the function, revealed that the BRMS was developed by a multi-sectoral team from the ministry of health and the education sector through the co-ordination of Directorate of education standards.

"We believe that the multi sectoral inter disciplinary committee (MSIC) will enforce the BRMS and ensure adherence to the set standards for establishing, licensing registration and accreditation of health training institutions which in the past received criticism from the public and some professionals themselves, "she said.

She restated that the ministry has made a significant strides and achievements in the improvement of quality of human resources for health training over a period of time in a bid to improve health service delivery.

"Quality assurance of human resource for health is one of the key priorities of the education sector, "she said.

The director of the Directorate of education standards Abdullah Mutazidwa said that the BRMS is a big step towards improvement of health service delivery in the country.