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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Medicine in Public Health Medicine 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
117129  Master of Medicine in Public Health Medicine 
ORIGINATOR
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
This qualification will enable professionals to render both formal academic and in-service training in public health medicine as well as service delivery at health care facilities and tertiary educational institutions. They will also perform both contractual and academic research in a relevant field of public health medicine.

Rationale:
There is a need for public health Medicine specialists to implement adequate health services for the majority of citizens that rely on the public sector for their health care needs. Because public health practice has as a goal, the improvement of health outcomes of populations through preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviour and ensuring access to quality health services, public health medicine specialist skills and competencies are core to the production of robust health research, policy development and services management to support health systems strengthening. By focusing on prevention strategies and the detecting of health issues as early as possible both the society, the individual and the economy will benefit through better health and better health outcomes.

The Master of Medicine in Public Health qualification will provide appropriately trained professionals with the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to register as specialists in Public Health Medicine with the Medical and Dental Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa and to practise as such within the Southern African context. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Due to the technical nature of the qualification and the strict criteria stipulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration of the speciality, entry to training for the qualification is by fulfilling the stipulated requirements. Entry to the qualification is thus not possible through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.
    And
  • Registration with Health Professions Council of South Africa.
    And
  • Be appointed to a registrar training post recognised by the Health Professions Council of South Africa. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory module at Level 9, totalling 720 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • CHRC701 (MHMB190) Communicable and non-communicable health-related conditions, 108 Credits.
  • ATHS701 (MHMA19O) Administrative theory and the health-related social sciences, 108 Credits.
  • ETBD701 (MHMC190) Epidemiologic theory, biostatistics and demography, 108 Credits.
  • COHE761 (MHMD19O) Community Health, 180 Credits.
  • Dissertation (DlCH761) (MHMAOQO), 216 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Investigate and solve complex public health problems in the fields of Epidemiology, Public Health Services Management, Health Law and Environmental and Occupational Health.
    2. Conduct an independent, advanced, appropriate, ethically responsible research in any field of public health medicine.
    3. Demonstrate an attitude of moral concern towards the public health problems of Southern Africa and practise his/her profession at the highest ethical level.
    4. Participate both in the formal academic teaching and the informal in-service training of all levels of health care professionals.
    5. Communicate successfully at all levels, using verbal, written or electronic means of communication.
    6. Engage in life-long skills development and self-learning.
    7. Function effectively as a member of the multidisciplinary team, in solving public health problems and transcending the boundaries of the health sciences to include disciplines such as architecture, business management, health economics, engineering, social work, demography and biostatistics.
    8. Manage complex health care systems at the local, provincial or national levels. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 1:
  • Successfully investigate and assess a specific community health problem and formulate alternative solutions to such a problem.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 2:
  • Successfully complete an academic dissertation in an approved field of public health medicine;
    And
  • Successfully publish a research topic in an approved medical journal;
    And
  • Present an approved research topic at a local or national congress;
    And
  • Present an approved research poster at a local or national congress.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 3:
  • Identify ethical issues in any public health problem and enter into a discourse as to the preferred course of action.
  • Defend the ethical aspects of his/her research protocol before the Research and Ethics Committee of the university.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 4:
  • Actively participate in formal undergraduate teaching.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 5:
  • Chair a seminar or meeting, write a dissertation, formal report or memorandum, deliver a lecture, participate at a tutorial and successfully conclude an oral examination.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 6:
  • Demonstrate the ability to study independently and diligently to meet the academic requirements of the course.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 7:
  • Participate in multi-disciplinary projects during the whole formal training period and be able to write joint reports on such projects.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level 8:
  • Master the theoretical and practical aspects of public health management and administration as required by the formal qualification, including passing the formal examinations relating to public health administration and completing the rotations related to health systems management.

    Integrated Assessment:

    The following routes accomplish integrated assessment:
    Continuous assessment:
    Each learner prepares and carries a personal portfolio on which his/her academic and professional progress is documented. The assessment of the portfolio is by the whole team of consultants at regular intervals.

    Projects:
    Projects are allocated on an ongoing basis to each learner and may be small or large. Report back may be verbal (informal) or in the form of a formally written memorandum.

    Practical assignments:
    There is a rotation of registrars through all levels of government health services and selected services in the private sector which cover aspects of public health medicine not otherwise offered in the public sector such as occupational medicine. Such rotations will operate throughout the qualification.

    Oral presentations:
    These include presentations at journal clubs and presentations on selected topics during departmental academic days.

    Primary examinations (Formative assessment):
    The completion of all primary examination modules must be within 30 months of registration. The primary examination courses are as follows:
  • CHRC 701 (MHMB190) Communicable and non-communicable health-related conditions.
  • ATHS701 (MHMA190) Administrative theory and the health-related conditions.
  • ETBD701 (MHMC190) Epidemiologic theory, biostatistics and demography.

    Each primary examination module consists of a single written 3-hour paper.
    A learner may not enter for the final examinations before passing all the primary examination courses.

    Final examinations: (Summative assessment).
  • COHE (MHMD190) Community Health(Major).

    The written part of the final examination consists of three separate papers as follows:
  • Health Services Administration.
  • Systematic and Interventional Epidemiology.
  • Environmental Health.

    The practical part of the final examination consists of a whole morning practical covering a specific aspect of public health medicine which is presented by the candidate in the form of a written formal report followed by a viva voce of 30 minutes.
  • The oral part of the examination consists of a viva voce of one hour's duration.

    The final combined mark is calculated in a ratio of 60:20:20 for the written, oral and practical parts respectively. A sub-minimum of 50% in the written examination and 40% in both the practical and oral examinations is required.

    Dissertation [DICH761 (MHMA0Q0)]:
    The learner must pass the dissertation separately and independently. The academic level of the dissertation is that of a standard MSc dissertation in the Faculty of Sciences.

    Publications in Refereed Scientific Journals:
    Learners are encouraged to submit at least one research article for publication in a refereed scientific journal during their studies. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Master of Medicine in Public Health Medicine is comparable with international requirements for certification as a specialist in community health/public health medicine/preventive medicine in countries such as Canada, Australia, United States of America and Europe. Formal recognition, however, is dependent on the internal policies of the relevant institution/certification board/country. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers possibilities of vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Philosophy in Public Mental Health, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Public Health, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Public Health Nutrition, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Medicine, NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.