Clinical officer
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A clinical officer (CO) is a gazetted officer who is qualified and licensed to practice medicine.[6][7]
In
History
In her books, "Beyond the State: The Colonial Medical Service in British Africa" and "Indian Doctors in Kenya, 1895 - 1940: The Forgotten History", the author
Kenya
In
KNQF Level | Recognised qualification | Duration |
---|---|---|
KNQF level 1: Kenya Certificate of Primary Education |
Subjects:
|
8 years |
KNQF level 2: Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education |
Pre-requisites:
|
4 years |
KNQF level 6:[9] Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery |
Courses taught and examined by the Kenya Medical Training College:
|
3 years |
Pre-registration Internship (Compulsory) |
Subjects examined by the Clinical Officers Council before issuing internship licenses/rotations completed during internship:
Required for registration and licensing by the Clinical Officers Council and membership of the Kenya Clinical Officers Association. |
1 year |
Apprenticeship |
Required for specialization
|
3 years |
KNQF level 7: Higher diploma |
|
1.5 years |
Bachelor's degree: Pre-requisites (Upgrading) |
|
- |
Bachelor's degree: Pre-requisites (Direct entry) |
- | |
KNQF level 7: Bachelor's degree |
|
4 years |
KNQF level 7: Bachelor's degree |
|
2.5 years |
Pre-registration Internship (Compulsory) |
Required for registration and licensing by the Clinical Officers Council and membership of the Kenya Clinical Officers Association |
1 year |
Apprenticeship |
Required for specialization
|
3 years |
KNQF level 8: Higher diploma |
|
1.5 years |
KNQF level 9: Master's degree |
|
3 years |
KNQF level 10: Doctor of philosophy degree |
|
4 years |
The training expanded after Kenya's independence in 1962 through to 1970 when the newly created
Job group | Scope of practice |
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H | Entry and training grade. Works under the guidance of a senior officer. Duties and responsibilities include taking history, examining, diagnosing and treating patients' common ailments at an outpatient or inpatient health facility, implementing community healthcare activities in liaison with other health workers, guiding and counselling patients, clients and staff on health issues, sensitizing patients and clients on preventive and promotive health, carrying out minor surgical procedures as per training and skill, collecting and compiling clinical data, and referring patients and clients to appropriate health facilities. |
J | Providing clinical outreach and school health activities, assessing, preparing and presenting medico-legal reports |
K | Organizing health management teams and convening health management committee meetings |
L | History-taking, examining, diagnosing, treating and managing diseases and conditions in an outpatient or inpatient health facility, coaching and mentoring students on attachment, conducting ward rounds, reviewing and making appropriate referrals, carrying out surgical procedures as per training and skills, offering specialized clinical services including Ear, Nose and Throat/Audiology, orthopedics and trauma, Child Health and Paediatrics, Reproductive Health, Ophthalmology, Anaesthesia, Lungs and Skin, Dermatology and Venereology. |
M | Providing clinical services in a health facility, compiling and analyzing clinical data, carrying out disease surveillance and recommending appropriate control measures. |
N | Implementing clinical service procedures, guidelines and quality assurance standards in the provision of clinical services, providing clinical and family healthcare in health institutions and communities, implementing medico-legal standards and guidelines, undertaking disease surveillance, control and management, undertaking research on critical health issues and emerging trends, monitoring patients, making appropriate referrals and providing necessary guidance and counselling, providing specialized services including epidemiology, coroner and forensic medicine, medical education, health economics and policy, health systems management, psychology, family and community health services, and providing emergency clinical care during disasters. |
P | Implementing clinical services policies, procedures and guidelines, maintaining stanfards, ethics and quality assurance systems in the provision of clinical services, providing clinical and family health care services in health institutions and communities, reviewing medico-legal standards and guidelines, undertaking research on critical health issues and emerging trends, implementing referral strategies and guidelines in liaison with other stakeholders, identifying skills mix and training for quality service provision in the relevant specialized service areas including, Ear, nose and throat/audiology, ophthalmology and cataract surgery, Child health and paediatrics, Anaesthesia, orthopedics and trauma, epidemiology, lung and skin, reproductive health, dermatology and venereology, coroner and forensic medicine, medical education, health economics and policy, health systems management, psychology, family and community health services, capacity building for disaster preparedness and emergency response, and coaching and mentoring staff. |
Q | - |
R | - |
S | Co-ordinating the clinical services function by formulating, developing, implementing and reviewing policies, procedures and guidelines for clinical services, setting standards, ethics and quality assurance systems in the provision of clinical services, ensuring proper provision of clinical and family health health care services in health institutions and communities, formulating, developing and reviewing medico-legal standards and guidelines, facilitating research and innovation on critical health issues and emerging trends, overseeing development and review of referral strategies and guidelines in liaison with other stakeholders, providing technical advise, planning and budgeting, managing resources and budgets, capacity building and performance management for the department. |
Job group | CSG | Clinical Officer (4-year non-degree training) | Clinical Officer (5-year degree training) | Medical Officer (6-year degree training) | Consultant (Postgraduate degree training) |
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H | 11 | Registered Clinical Officer III | N/A | N/A | N/A |
J | 10 | Registered Clinical Officer II | N/A | N/A | N/A |
K | 9 | Registered Clinical Officer I | Clinical Officer | N/A | N/A |
L | 9 | Senior Registered Clinical Officer | Senior Clinical Officer | N/A | N/A |
M | 8 | Chief Registered Clinical Officer II | Chief Clinical Officer | Medical Officer | N/A |
N | 7 | Principal Registered Clinical Officer II | Principal Clinical Officer | Senior Medical Officer | N/A |
P | 6 | Principal Registered Clinical Officer I | Assistant Director of Clinical Services | Assistant Director of Medical Services | Medical Specialist II |
Q | 6 | N/A | Senior Assistant Director of Clinical Services | Senior Assistant Director of Medical Services | Medical Specialist I |
R | 5 | N/A | Deputy Director of Clinical Services | Deputy Director of Medical Services | Senior Medical Specialist |
S | 4 | N/A | Director of Clinical Services | Senior Deputy Director of Medical Services | Chief Medical Specialist |
T | 3 | N/A | N/A | Senior Deputy Director of Medical Services | Senior Chief Medical Specialist |
U | 2 | N/A | N/A | Director of Medical Services | N/A |
Clinical officer is a
A clinical officer observes, interviews and
Clinical officers, medical officers and medical practitioners are the only officers who are gazetted and licensed to practice medicine in Kenya. They work under oath and generate credible health data and information within communities and health institutions and cascade the same to the county and national governments, government agencies and third parties through standard recording and reporting tools from the Ministry of Health which are used to capture data on disease outbreaks, physical injuries and deformities, mental illness, drug resistance, disability, nutritional disorders, births and deaths among others.
Overview
To practice medicine and surgery or dentistry as a clinical officer one requires at least four years of full-time medical training, supervised clinical practice and internship at an accredited medical training institution and hospitals and registration with the relevant medical board in their country. After a prescribed number of years in active practice, one may complete a further one or two-year residency programme in order to specialize in any approved branch of clinical medicine and surgery such as
A clinician can specialize in any other field that is deemed appropriate by them and not just clinical medicine. China also has masters of clinical medicine. In countries like Tanzania, UK, and other countries, clinical medicine is regarded as a medical course and graduates are allowed to apply to masters of medicine specialties.
No significant difference has been demonstrated in studies comparing treatment decisions, patient outcomes, quality of care provided and level of knowledge about diseases between a clinical officer and a medical officer (a non-specialist physician) except in countries where nurses were mistakenly assessed as clinical officers. However, because of the nature of practice, populations served and resources at ones disposal, a clinical officer is less likely to administer expensive treatment, prescribe expensive (but not necessarily better) drugs or engage in
The success of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives in Africa is mostly attributed to use of clinical officers to diagnose the disease and provide comprehensive medical care. Access to emergency obstetric care through greater deployment of the clinical officer is one way of attaining the Millennium Development Goals 4 (reducing child mortality) and 5 (improving maternal health).[11]
Worldwide, patients are seen by many other practitioners other than the traditional doctor such as:
- Anesthesiologist assistantsin the United States
- Emergency and Clinical Officer Pakistan
- Physician Assistants in the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Liberia and Ghana
- Assistant Doctors in China,[12]
- Surgical Care and Emergency Care Practitioners in the UK,[13]
- Assistant Physicians in Saudi Arabia,[14]
- Health Extension Officers in Papua New Guinea[15]
- medical assistants/Sub Assistant Community Medical Officer in Bangladesh
- Medical Assistantsin Fiji
- Assistant Medical Officersin Malaysia
- Surgical Technologists in Mozambique
- Clinical Associates in South Africa.[16]
Scope of practice
A clinical officer takes the
A clinical officer's scope of practice depends on one's training and experience, jurisdiction and workplace policies. In Malawi, for instance, a clinical officer performs all routine surgical and obstetric operations such as exploratory laparatomy, emergency orthopaedics and Caesarean section. However, in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique one has to undergo further specialized training in order to perform such major operations safely.
In rural and small urban health facilities a clinical officer is usually the highest medical care provider and works with minimal resources, relying on the traditional medical history and physical examination, often with little or no laboratory facilities, to make a diagnosis and provide treatment. In bigger and better equipped facilities a clinical officer generally acquires superior knowledge, experience and skills and provides high quality and a wider range of services in district, provincial and national hospitals, universities and colleges, research institutions and private medical facilities.
A clinical officer is usually the lowest entry-level cadre in the medical hierarchy but with years of experience and/or further training one can rise to the same or a higher grade than a physician. In most countries, however, wages are usually low compared to training and responsibilities and career progression is usually restricted by awarding terminal degrees and diplomas, training students who have not attained the minimum university entry grade and, in some countries, not awarding any degree or recognition for advanced training. In such countries, this usually results in a demotivated and low quality workforce and resulting poor health indicators.
The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other international health and research institutions make extensive use of COs in their projects in Africa and clinical officers have been the backbone of HIV care and treatment enabling the rollout of ARVS to even the most rural hard to reach areas in Africa.
Research done by the
In the multi-country study, poor outcomes were observed in
Kenya
Kenya has a comprehensive framework of parallel laws and regulations that govern the medical practice of medical officers and clinical officers. The supreme health policy and medical authorities in the republic are the cabinet secretary of health and the director of medical services who oversee the registration and licensing of medical institutions and the training, registration and licensing of medical practitioners through the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board and the Clinical Officers Council.
As a
Clinical officers play a central role in Kenya's medical sector today. There were 8,600 clinical officers on the register in 2010 compared to 7,100 medical officers.[19] They are trained by the universities, the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC),[20] St. Mary's School of Clinical Medicine and other private institutions. The Ministry of Health, through the Clinical Officers Council (COC)[21] regulates their training and practice, accredits training institutions, and approves the syllabi of the universities and colleges. The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), also under the Ministry of Health, has campuses in regional teaching hospitals and trains the majority of clinical officers. St. Mary's School of Clinical Medicine and St. Mary's Mission Hospital in Mumias, owned by the Roman Catholic diocese of Kakamega, was the first private institution to train clinical officers. It admits students who got the minimum university entry grade in high school and have passed a written examination and oral interview. The students sit the same examination as their counterparts at the KMTC and are examined by consultants from the public service.
On 28 October 1981 lawmakers addressed the National Assembly as follows:
- Mr. Orengo: On a point of order Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir. Is it really in order for the hon. Member for Butere to impute that this house does not know that clinical officers are not allowed to practice. I think the motion is just after legalizing the position and not saying that they are not allowed to practice.
- Mr. Shikuku: Mr. Deputy Speaker, we heard Dr. Chibule saying that he is going to give us a list of 20 clinical officers who are being refused permission to practice and forced to go back to government practice and this is the thing I am trying to reply to. The hon. Member was in the house when Dr. Chibule said this but I do not know why he did not hear him say so, but nevertheless, let me continue. Mr. Deputy speaker, Sir, the clinical officers helped the government during the recent doctors' strike in the country when we virtually depended on them. Now, Sir, part (a) of this motion is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Health because if anybody wants to pursue higher education, even from this house, it is upon him first to make sure he has the prerequisite qualifications to pursue higher studies. So, with that, the ministry is not concerned. Part (b) of the motion is the most important. We are requiring the enactment of a law to cover our present clinical officers to allow them to practice and be covered by the law as the doctors are covered. This is the point and the assistant minister for health has produced a paper which is going to be presented before the cabinet after which it will come to the house. Now, Sir, where do we disagree? There is no place where we disagree. What we are trying to say is that the government is already doing what it is being asked to do, and that is why we are saying that this matter has more or less been overtaken by events. Therefore, we are not going to be asked to do what we are already doing.
- Mr. Orengo: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
- Mr. Shikuku: You can have as many points of order as you like!
The dual diploma in
Medical Officers training:
- Is a six-year professional degree programme accredited by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board involving
- Two years of pre-clinical training in medical sciences followed by
- Four years of training in clinical medicine, surgery and community health including a mandatory one-year internship and
- Registration, licensing and gazettment by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board giving
- Unlimited practice rights with
- Specialisation and private practice allowed and eligible for full professional membership of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA)
Clinical Officers training:
- Is a four or five-year professional diploma or degree programme accredited by the Clinical Officers Council involving
- One year of pre-clinical training in medical sciences followed by
- Three or four years of training in clinical medicine, surgery and community health including a mandatory one-year internship and
- Registration, licensing and gazettment by the Clinical Officers Council giving
- Unlimited practice rights with
- Specialisation and private practice allowed and eligible for full professional membership of the Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA)
The current training follows international guidelines and the two qualifications are awarded jointly on successful completion of a comprehensive nine trimester programme of full-time study, practicals and examinations which are covered over three years leading to a fourth mandatory year of internship in a teaching hospital. A fifth and sixth residency specialisation years are undertaken after registration by the
A clinical officer is therefore able to graduate and join the workforce in a minimum of four calendar years and provides medical services within the full scope of family and emergency medicine or within a narrower scope depending on their area of specialisation.
Registration by the
As
Clinical officers are direct healthcare providers who manage and administer health institutions, medical schemes and projects in
Legal status
In Kenya's public health system, a clinical officer is an alternative practitioner who is trained and authorized by law to perform any technical, administrative or legal duties that require a medical doctor.[citation needed] However, due to the shorter training period when compared to medical officers (i.e. 4 years instead of 6 years), a clinical officer joins the public service at a lower grade and gains seniority through experience, additional training or further education.
Like the term medical officer, the term clinical officer is a protected title whose use without the authority of the Clinical Officers Council is prohibited and a punishable offense under Kenyan laws. Court rulings uphold that a registration certificate or a licence issued by the council automatically confers the status of a medical officer or a qualified medical practitioner to a clinician and the titles are used interchangeably in medico-legal documents because a qualified clinical officer has a recognized medical qualification and is eligible for registration as a medical practitioner under Section 11(1) of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act in addition to being expressly authorized to practice medicine, surgery or dentistry by Section 7(4) of the Clinical Officers ActCriminal Appeal 198 of 2008 - Kenya LawCriminal Case 6 of 2004 - Kenya LawCAP. 249[27]
From the Anatomy Act, the legal definition of a medical officer is any public officer who is entitled to be registered as a medical practitioner if he applied under any law in the country: Section 14(1) of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act and Section 7(4) of the Clinical Officers Act are the only two laws that can authorize one to practice medicine and render medical or dental services in the public sector if they hold a registration certificate or in the private sector if they hold a current licence as well. The Public Health Act further defines a medical officer of health as a public officer who is responsible for health nationally (the Director of Medical Services and the Director clinical services) or regionally (the county or sub-county Medical Officer of Health and the county or sub-county Clinical Officer).
Like his counterparts in the public service, a clinical officer in the private sector has the same practice rights and privileges as a medical officer and both are authorized to work independently and specialize in any approved branch of general or specialised medicine. The Competition Act No.12 of 2010 directly prohibits and addresses multi-sectoral abuse of dominance, consumer welfare, exemptions, cartels and unwarranted concentration of economic power among practitioners.
A register of active clinical officers and medical institutions is available online on the Clinical Officers Council and Ministry of Health websites.
The Clinical Officers (Training, Registration and Licensing) Act No. 20 of 2017
The Clinical Officers (Training, Registration and Licensing) Act No.20 of 2017 is the law that governs the medical practice of a clinical Officer.[28] It establishes the Clinical Officers Council whose functions are to:
- advise the government on policy matters relating to clinical medicine practice
- prescribe the minimum educational entry requirements for persons wishing to be trained as clinical officers
- approve institutions other than those established or accredited under the Universities Act, 2012 for the training of clinical officers
- establish, approve and accredit programs for continuing professional educational programs
- register and license clinical officers for the purposes of this Act
- maintain a register and records of all clinical officers registered under this Act
- cause to be published in the Kenya Gazette every calendar year the names of all registered clinical officers
- promote development and adoption of codes of practice
- regulate the professional conduct and ensure the maintenance and improvement of the standards of practice of clinical medicine
- collaborate with other medical professional associations, organisations and other relevant bodies, in the furtherance of the functions of the council and those bodies
- consider and deal with any other matter pertaining to clinical officers including prescribing badges, insignias or uniforms to be worn by clinical officers and
- carry out other functions related to the implementation of this Act.
Training
Although training programmes existed as early as 1928, the first university to train clinical officers was
Students study the
There is special emphasis on
They also learn
Internship and registration
All clinical officers must work as full-time interns for one year without pay or any form of motivation at an approved public or mission hospital before getting a licence to practice medicine, a situation that has resulted to major strikes by clinical officers in the past leading to operation standstills in public hospitals when these strikes occur. On passing the final qualifying examination, they take the
Careers Progression
An experienced clinical officer usually holds a senior clinical, administrative or teaching position within their organisation or establishes and manages his/her own private practice. One who holds the
The Higher Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery requires at least three years of working experience and lasts twelve to eighteen months leading to a specialised qualification and re-designation as a specialised clinical officer in one of the medical specialties such as
Malawi
Medical care is generally provided by clinical officers who are even capable of providing surgical care. Clinical Officers are trained for 4 years, (3+1 year of clinical internship at designated teaching hospitals). One meta-analysis documented that the provision of caesarean section by clinical officers does not result in a significant increase in maternal or perinatal mortality. In other, words there was no difference whether the operation was done by clinical officers or medical doctor[37]
Sudan
The graduates supplement the efforts of COs trained in neighboring countries, e.g. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, most of whom work for international humanitarian agencies.[citation needed] Since 2014, Juba institute of Health Sciences and Ayii University 2021 have now joined in production of competent cadres in the Health in the Republic of South Sudan.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, training is under the Ministry of Health. There are numerous clinical officer training schools and programs last three years. Internship is not required for registration.[24]
Experienced clinical officers may enrol for an advanced diploma in clinical medicine which takes two years to complete. This qualification is regarded as equivalent to a first degree in medicine by universities and the Ministry of Health in the country. The graduates are known as
A further two years training from the Clinical Officer level leads to a specialist qualification inanaesthesia, medicine, surgery and radiology etc.
Kampala International University has opened a campus in Dar es Salaam where it is now offering its Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and Community Health.
Uganda
By 1918, Uganda was training clinical officers who were called medical assistants at the time. The training is under the Ministry of Education and takes place in clinical officer training schools.[38] Postsecondary programs last three years, focusing on medicine and hospice care, followed by a two-year internship.[24]
Kampala International University offers a Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and Community Health.[39] High school graduates take four-and-a-half years to complete this degree while practicing clinical officers take three years.
Zambia
In
Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, as elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, the use of non-physician clinicians began as a temporary measure while more doctors were trained, but has become a permanent strategy in the face of a crisis in health human resources. Different training alternatives have been used. Two-year advanced training programs in surgery were developed for registered nurses. Clinical officers (known as attachés de santé en chirurgie) were district medical officers trained with an additional six-month curriculum in emergency surgery.[41]
Many studies show that trained COs provide quality medical and surgical care with outcomes similar to physicians' providing similar care in the same setting. However, nurses re-trained to become COs have been associated with more adverse outcomes as shown in a study using 2004-2005 hospital data from six regions of Burkina Faso, which associated them with higher maternal and neonatal mortality when they performed
Ethiopia
The first medical school in Ethiopia was initially a "health officer" training institution. The training of health officers started at Gonder University in 1954.[26] Health officers training programs across Ethiopia require that students have some of the highest scores in National University Entrance Examination to be admitted. Health officers hold bachelor's degrees and undergo a three-year training program plus one-year internship. Those who complete a 2–3 years master's degree programs provide advanced care (e.g. emergency surgery).[24]
Ghana
In Ghana, Medical Assistants (MAs) have traditionally been experienced nurses who have undergone an 18-month post-basic course to become MAs. High school graduates can now attend a three-year diploma course to become MAs.[42] In Ghana, from 2012, the nomenclature Medical Assistant had been changed to Physician Assistant..[43] The new name Physician Assistant is not known among most Ghanaians[44] The term Physician Assistant (PA) refers to three distinct groups of health professionals trained on the medical model to practise medicine and dentistry. They are the PA-Medical, PA-Dental and also known as Community Oral Health Officers and PA-Anaesthesia (also known as Nurse Anesthetists). These groups of mid-level health providers were trained exclusively in the past by Health Training Institutions (HTIs) under the Ministry of Health with the aim of extending care to the populace where physician numbers were scanty or not present.[43] Currently, there are eight universities in Ghana offering a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistantship. The objective of the Bachelor of Physician Assistantship programme is to train graduates who will possess the ability to evaluate the health status of an individual, diagnose and treat acute illness as well as life saving interventions, manage chronic diseases, deliver preventive care and counsel individuals on psychosocial problems in independently or in collaboration with a physician.[45]
In 2016, the PA-Anaesthesia group broke away and became certified registered anaesthetist (CRA) according to the Health Professions Regulatory Acts 857 which addressed them as certified registered anaesthetist.[46] PAs are qualified by graduation from the PA educational programme and certification by the Ghana Medical and Dental Council.[47] Newly qualified PAs who are successful in their licentiate examinations by the MDC are issued with provisional registrations to enable them undertake one-year internship in an accredited institution, a prerequisite for permanent registration which would also serve as national service[48] but without pay for the twelve months.
PA students in all PA training schools belong to the Physician Assistant Association of Ghana (PASAG). In order to foster unity, camaraderie and bond among members of the association, and to promote excellence in the discharge of their professional mandate, quiz competitions are held every year. The maiden edition was won by the Presbyterian University College, Ghana.[49] After permanent certification, among other things, PAs diagnose and treat illnesses, conduct physical examinations, counsel individuals on preventative health issues, and order and interpret laboratory tests.[50] In addition, PAs are first or second assistants in major surgery, and provide pre- and post-operative care, and for that matter are trained and well versed in surgical skills.[47] Thus, PAs play roles in preventive Medicine, as well as in educational, research, and administrative activities.[47] The physician assistant is part of the medical team and is placed above the nurse but below the medical officer[51] They perform tasks originally performed by doctors. Some call PAs as "village doctors" or "chiefs." To the patient, a PA is a doctor, since the PA practises medicine just as a doctor[50][52]
The Ghana Physician Assistant Association-Medical at their last annual delegate congress, voted for a name change from the current name Physician Assistant to Clinical Officer. The members of the association believes that the Assistant attached to their name is limitation to what the PA actually does. The PA is not an assistant but an independent medical professional trained and licensed to practise medicine and dentistry. The association has therefore presented a new job description and the new name clinical officer to the Ministry of Health. The meeting which was chaired by the chief director of the ministry of health Dr. Afisah Zakariah who promised to address the grievances of the PAs soon to be known as Clinical Officers[53]
Liberia
In
Mozambique
In Mozambique, tecnicos de cirurgia, or surgical technologists, are experienced Clinical Officers who undergo further residential training in surgery under the supervision of senior surgeons lasting two years at Maputo Central Hospital, and a one-year internship at a provincial hospital. They are trained to carry out emergency surgery, obstetrics and traumatology and are deployed to the district hospitals where they are usually the sole surgical care providers.[55]
South Africa
South Africa trains clinical associates for three years and awards them the Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice degree. The first program was launched by the late Health Minister Tshabalala Msimang on 18 August 2008 at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. The first class graduated in December 2010.[56] Programs also exist at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand.
International
The specialised nature of medical training in the developed world has created a shortage of general practitioners and runaway expenditure on healthcare by governments.
United States
Physician assistants in the United States train for at least two years at the postsecondary level and can hold an associate, bachelors or master's degree. Most PAs have earned a master's degree. Some institutions offer a Doctor of Science degree in the same. The profession is represented by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has in recent years employed physician assistants from the United States on a trial basis as it plans to introduce this cadre into their health care system.[citation needed] Several UK universities are already offering a post-graduate diploma in Physician Assistant studies. The PAs of the UK are represented by the Association of UK PAs.
Australia
The
China
China has about 880,000
Fiji
Africa and the rest of the world are perhaps following a well trode path. In 1879, a group of Indians arrived in
India
Under British rule, India trained licentiate doctors for three years. They were then registered with the General Medical Council of Britain. Most of them worked among the rural population providing medical care.
After independence, and on the recommendation of the
The plan was to train enough doctors who would serve the whole country. However, the plan has not borne fruit and doctors generally leave their rural posts after their internship for more lucrative and glamorous careers in the big cities.
As of 2009, the Indian government plans to introduce a three-and-a-half-year Bachelor of Rural Medicine and Surgery (BRMS) degree to train doctors who will work in remote Indian villages. On graduation they will undergo a one-year internship period at a regional hospital before being licensed. Those with five years' experience will qualify for post-graduate studies on equal standing with their MBBS counterparts.[59]
In
Bangladesh
This section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (July 2015) |
Mid-label Medical Care Health Human Resources of Bangladesh are Medical Assistant product of Medical Assistant Training School (MATS).3 year Medical Assistant Course Started 1976. Now 4 year Medical Assistant course 3 years academy+1 year internship See Also Sub assistant community Medical Officer
History
Bangladesh was part of British India until independence, and then spent a quarter of a century as East Pakistan before Bangladesh seceded and became an independent nation.
British India
Modern Bangladesh was mostly part of Bengal in British India.
In 1914 the State medical Faculty of Bengal was established to conduct trained Licentiate of Medical Faculty doctors (LMF Doctor) for four years Mid-Label Diploma Physician. They were then registered with the General Medical Council of Britain. Most of them worked among the rural population providing medical care. At independence East Pakistan had five medical schools:
- Mitford Medical School, Dhaka (1875-1957)
- Lytton Medical School, Mymensingh (1924-1962)
- Chittagong Medical School (1927-1957)
- Sylhet Medical School (1948-1962)
- Rajshahi Medical School (1954-1958)
East Pakistan
After independence from Britain, the training of licentiate doctors was continued in
Bangladesh
After independence from Pakistan, the training of licentiate doctors (LMF Doctor) course was stopped. All Medical School Converted Medical College & Course Started MBBS. The First Five year plan [1973] of the Father of Nations sheik
From 2009 session Medical Assistant Course developed 4-year course (3 year Institution + 1 year Internship). Nowadays Medical Assistant Course conducted in 8 public institution & 146 private institution.
About 65% rural population receive primary medical treatment from Sub-Assistant medical officer (medical assistant). Medical Assistant no scope of Higher education & promotion. But Bongobondu sheike mujibur rahman government The First Five year plan[1973] page 520 & 521 brief details on Medical Assistant (After passing medical assistant course & 3 year service rural area in national service entering qualification of medical college for MBBS course).[63]
Institution [MATS]
There are now 8 Government Medical Assistant Training Schools
- Tangail Medical Assistant Training School (Tangail MATS)
- Sirajgonj Medical Assistant Training School (Sirajgonj MATS)
- Kushtia Medical Assistant Training School (Kushtia MATS)
- Bagerhat Medical Assistant Training School (Bagerhat MATS)
- Noakhali Medical Assistant Training School (Noakhali MATS)
- Faridpur Medical Assistant Training School (Faridpur MATS)
- Jhenaidah Medical Assistant Training School (Jhenaidah MATS)
- Comilla Medical Assistant Training School (Comilla MATS)
There are 146 Private Medical Assistant Training Schools.
Malaysia
- Training Institute of Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Sultan Azalan Syah, Perak
- Training Institute of Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor
- T raining Institute of Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Kuching Sarawak
- Training Institute of Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
- Training Institute of Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Seremban
A registered Assistant Medical Officer can pursue their sub-specialty training (Post Basic certificates and Advanced Diploma) in various fields such as Emergency Medical and Trauma care, Primary Healthcare, Orthopedic, Cardio thoracic, Clinical Neuro-physiology, Sport Medicine, Anesthesiology, Diabetic care, Infection Control, hemodialysis, and many more. Assistant Medical Officer could also join the MBBS /MD after completing the undergraduate study by applying for those programs in either public or private institutions. Those who want to serve and continue as Assistant Medical Officer could further their study in a special programs for Assistant Medical Officers such as Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medicine with honors Archived 2020-07-27 at the Wayback Machine and Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences with honors. Unlike Physician Assistant / Associate (PA) and Clinical Officer (CO), Assistant Medical Officer in Malaysia is also involved in Pre-Hospital Care as part of their job scope. Postgraduate programs available for Assistant Medical Officer includes Master in Medical Science (Public Health), Master in Risk Disaster Management, Master in Medical Science (Emergency Medicine), Master in Hospital Management and Health Economics as well as PhD in clinical or medical sciences fields.
See also
- Allied health professions
- Healthcare in Kenya
- Paramedics
- Surgical technologists
- Clinical associates in South Africa
- Feldsher in countries of the former Soviet Union
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External links
- Presbyterian university of East Africa [permanent dead link]
- Kenya Medical Training College - Clinical Medicine Department
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College- Tanzania
- Egerton University (Kenya) - Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Kenya Methodist University - Department of Clinical Medicine
- Mt. Kenya University
- Malawi College of Health Sciences
- Maridi National Health Training Institute- Maridi
- Indian Association of Physician Assistants
- The Clinical Officers Council