Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Health Sciences and Social Services - Curative Health
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose and Rationale of the MBChB Qualification
Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) qualification is to train caring, competent, and committed medical doctors who will work as members of interprofessional teams. They will be equipped to practice primary health care that is holistic, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive. The qualification will utilize decentralised and distributive training platforms incorporating community-based, primary healthcare and district health care settings (urban and rural). This approach will provide work-integrated learning opportunities to complement academic studies.
Key Components:
- Modules focusing on both theory and practice of medicine
- Introduction to community-engaged healthcare
- Working with under-resourced communities, old age homes, rehabilitation facilities, etc.
- Work-based learning and Inter-Professional Education (IPE)
- Engagement in service delivery at community clinics and health centres
- Resource sharing through multilateral agreements with other medical institutions and the provincial Department of Health
Rationale:
This qualification for primary health care practitioners aligns with:
- Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa 2030
- World Health Organization's Global strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030
- National Health Act
- Department of Health Strategic Plan 2015-2021
- National Development Plan 2030
- Proposal for National Health Insurance (NHI)
- Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations (UN, 2015)
Goals:
- Produce practitioners who can provide preventive, promotive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative health services.
- Train medical doctors willing to serve and enhance the health of individuals, families, and communities in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas of the Province and South Africa as a whole.
Challenges in South Africa:
- Low doctor-patient ratio (1:4024)
- Shortage of doctors in the public health sector
- Imbalance towards medical specialists
- Need for more primary health practitioners to address non-communicable disorders
Qualification Objective: The MBChB qualification aims to contribute to the national plan for universal, equitable healthcare by training primary health care practitioners. These practitioners will focus on preventive and holistic medicine in the public health system, prioritizing the health care needs of the Province and the public at large.
By addressing these challenges and goals, the qualification intends to improve healthcare delivery and meet the growing demand for primary healthcare practitioners in South Africa.
Outcomes
- Integrate all of the graduate attribute roles, applying profession-specific knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes in their provision of patient/client-centred care.
- Effectively facilitate the carer-patient/carer-client relationship and the dynamic exchanges that occur before, during and after interventions.
- Work effectively within a team to achieve optimal patient/client care.
- Participate in healthcare organisations, organising sustainable practices, making decisions about allocating resources, and contributing to the effectiveness of the healthcare system.
- Responsibly use their expertise and influence to advance the health and well-being of individuals, communities and populations.
- Demonstrate a lifelong commitment to reflective learning as well as the creation, dissemination, application and translation of knowledge.
- Demonstrate commitment to ensure the health and well-being of individuals and communities through ethical practice, profession-led self-regulation and high personal standards of behaviour.
Assessment Criteria
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Function effectively as entry-level healthcare practitioners
- Acquire and maintain knowledge, skills, attitudes, and character appropriate to their practice
- Perform comprehensive assessments of patients/clients
- Use preventive, promotive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative interventions effectively
- Demonstrate efficient and appropriate use of procedural skills
- Seek appropriate consultation from other healthcare professionals
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Develop rapport, trust, and ethical therapeutic relationships
- Accurately elicit and synthesize relevant information
- Convey relevant information and explanations accurately and effectively
- Develop a common understanding of issues, problems, and plans
- Convey effective and accurate oral and written information
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Participate effectively in multicultural, interprofessional, and trans-professional teams
- Work effectively with other healthcare professionals
- Promote positive relationships and resolve interpersonal conflict
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Contribute to healthcare organizations and systems
- Manage practice and career effectively
- Utilize healthcare resources appropriately
- Serve in administration and leadership roles
- Provide effective healthcare to communities
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Respond to individual patient/client health needs
- Respond to the health needs of communities
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Maintain and enhance professional competence
- Facilitate the learning of patients/clients and others
- Ask practice questions, locate relevant evidence, critically evaluate information
Assessment Associated Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Demonstrate commitment and accountability through ethical practice
- Participate in profession-led self-regulation
- Commit to own health and sustainable practice
Integrated Assessment:
- Formative and summative assessments
- Formative assessments prepare learners for summative assessments
- Marks for formative assessments may not count towards the final grade
- Summative assessments will be cumulative and comprehensive
- Assessment strategy aims for validity and reliability
- Standard-setting strategy for pass/fail judgements
- Workplace monitoring and feedback during clinical rotations
Final Three Years Clinical Rotations Assessment:
- Final summative assessment includes a clinical practical component
- Continuous clinical assessments using workplace-based strategies
- End of year OSCE with all departments contributing
- Structured oral examination of recorded cases in portfolios
- Supervising clinicians assess performance and communication skills
- Assessments include global ratings, structured direct observations, and oral presentations
- Integrated application of theoretical knowledge and practical skills
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 930
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.