HCPZ unveils ambitious strategic plan

 As government urges the health regulatory body to go beyond its mandate of promoting compliance and ensuring the protection of the people of Zambia through quality medical practitioners. 

By Francis Maingaila 

Lusaka, Zambia24 (16-05-2023) - The Health Professional Council of Zambia (HCPZ)  has launched its strategic plan for the period of 2022 to 2026. 

The plan, which aligns with the 8th National Development Plan with the Minister of Health, aims to meet the expectations and aspirations of the general public from HPCZ. 

The Minister of Health, Silvia Masebo, represented by her Permanent Secretary, Dr. George Sinyangwe urged the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) to go beyond its mandate of promoting compliance and ensure the protection of the people of Zambia through quality medical practitioners. 

The government also expects the HPCZ to adapt and implement approaches that meet the demands of contemporary evolution.

Masebo stated that the government's agenda is for Universal Health Coverage, which aims to ensure that everyone has access to cost-effective healthcare services as close to their families as possible. 

She expressed pleasure in officiating at the launch of the HPCZ's strategic plan and called for the provision of quality healthcare services that meet national standards and protect the people of Zambia.

The HPCZ is expected to promote compliance and ensure the protection of the public through the delivery of quality medical services. 

The implementation of a successful strategic plan would result in high-quality services at both public and private health facilities, and lead to the development of competent and ethical practitioners while providing compliance with national healthcare standards.

Masebo expressed the Ministry's concern about the quality of graduates coming out of some health training institutions and called for urgent action to address the issue of overcrowding in practical placement areas. 

The HPCZ must collaborate with other stakeholders in the training sector to ensure a resolution.

The government is working towards reducing fees payable by health practitioners, facilities, and training institutions to increase citizen-led private healthcare sector participation.

 The culture of innovation encouraged in the strategic plan seeks to streamline licensing processes, making it easier for individuals to open corporate health facilities and obtain specific licenses.

 The government prioritizes job creation through interventions that promote talent, creativity, and partnerships between health practitioners.

The government continues to make massive investments in infrastructure, equipment, and human capital to achieve equity in access to cost-effective and quality healthcare services.

Masebo called for the HPCZ to operate efficiently to deliver its mission of providing quality healthcare services and contributing to human and socio-economic development.

Masebo commended HPCZ for the development of the strategic plan, which enhances awareness of its services and provides a platform for feedback on service quality. 

The government places a high priority on the health of its population, and she pledged to continue working towards achieving the Universal Health Coverage agenda through policies, formulation, and guide implementation strategies, and strengthening health promotion education and disease prevention.

And Board Chairman Prof Malindi Mwanahamunthu expressed his gratitude to the representative of the Minister of Health and the Minister himself for their continued support. 

As a regulator, the council is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in regulating the health space, adhering strictly to the targets in the 2022-2026 strategic plan. 

This plan was created after input from all strategic stakeholders in HPC and is aimed at upholding national healthcare standards while involving critical stakeholders in service delivery without compromising standards. 

The council will remain focused and committed to executing its regulatory mandate as outlined in the Health Professions Act number 24 of 2009. 

The plan requires support and participation from stakeholders and cooperating partners to achieve its strategic objectives. 

And the HCPZ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Registrar Fastine Goma stated that the council's vision for the next five years is to be a model regulator of health practitioners and healthcare services.

The mission is to regulate the professional conduct of health practitioners, health facilities, and health training programs to ensure quality healthcare services provision for the well-being of the Zambian people.

The council aims to achieve operational excellence, ensure proficiency and excellence in health practitioners and facilities, and comply with traditional healthcare standards.

Seven strategic objectives were identified, with each having a particular strategy or strategy to ensure their achievement. 

They aim to enhance the regulation of health professionals' conduct and facilities/services, finances, information, operational systems, human resources, and institutional infrastructure. 

Through this strategic plan, HPCZ aims to deliver high-quality services, ensure compliance from health facilities, maximize available resources and revenue collection, raise awareness of HPCZ services, and interact with stakeholders and the general public more. 

The council aims to achieve 100% of the set objectives and to ensure this, they have developed a monitoring and evaluation plan to document progress. The plan is vital for effective implementation and achieving the intended.

The Health Professional Council of Zambia has launched its strategic plan for the period of 2023 to 2026. 

The plan was created in line with the 8th National Development Plan with the Minister of Health and aims to meet the aspirations and expectations of the general public.

The Council expressed gratitude to the Minister of Health for their continued support and emphasized their commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability when regulating the health space. 

The plan's objectives focus on operational excellence within the health sector, ensuring health practitioners' proficiency, and compliance with traditional health care standards.

The Council emphasized the critical role of stakeholders and partners in achieving these objectives.

The plan will require close to K111 million and will be monitored and evaluated to document progress. 

They created a monitoring and evaluation plan that will be launched with the strategic plan to ensure accountability at all levels. 

The Council called for support and participation from stakeholders and partners to actualize the strategic objectives outlined in the plan.

Patricia Malambo Chikalanga, Director of strategic planning from the Cabinet Office Management Development Division, expressed his pleasure with the launch of the Health Professions Council of Zambia's strategic plan and emphasized its importance. 

She began by quoting Winston Churchill and the need for planning to avoid failure. 

Chikalanga commended the dedication and hard work exhibited by the management and leadership of the Council during the strategic planning process.

He highlighted how the Board's chairperson, the CEO, and Senior Management's commitment to the process had been exceptional, compared to other institutions. 

Chikalanga mentioned the critical role of the Management Development Division as a consultant to the government, providing support in developing strategic plans, contracts, organization structures, and service delivery charters.

 He also pointed out that the institutional assessment organization development approach was used in the process, which involved a thorough analysis of the institution before mapping out the strategic direction.

Chikalanga commended the HPCZ for a highly consultative and comprehensive process that incorporated the balanced scorecard principles.

 She expressed his confidence that the document presented would receive full support from stakeholders and urged the Council to ensure effective implementation to create a positive impact for the people of Zambia. 

She emphasized the importance of monitoring and evaluating performance and having a risk management framework to accept and manage risks.

Chikalanga concluded by wishing the Health Professions Council of Zambia all the best in their endeavor to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Zambia.