Reference: PG/MUS/0738
Location: Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Port Louis, Mauritius; and Central Health Laboratory, Candos, Mauritius
Duration: 4 Months
Closing Date: 16 Apr 2013
Location: Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Port Louis, Mauritius; and Central Health Laboratory, Candos, Mauritius
Duration: 4 Months
Closing Date: 16 Apr 2013
Project Background
The project will support the establishment of a comprehensive and context-relevant Health Professions Council in Mauritius. The health sector is a fundamental social service for the public and constitutes one of the core vanguards of improved development outcomes and wellbeing. Health Professions Councils, such as Health & Care Professions Council of the UK, have demonstrated that such institutions have the potential to generate economies of scale through association to deliver more efficient healthcare provision.
Mauritius has established a HPC Task Force comprised of health professionals from both private and public sectors to collaboratively draft a proposal for an HPC in Mauritius. This project aims to finalize the draft of the Health Professions Council Bill for submission to State law Office for enactment by Parliament. The Bill and HPC established following this project will ensure that quality and standardized services are being provided by health care professionals to the Mauritian public.
Presently, health professionals in Mauritius are generally registered with separate professional councils and include diverse practitioners such as Medical Practitioners (Medical Council), Nursing Officers (Nursing Council), Dental Surgeons (Dental Council) and Pharmacists (Pharmacy Board). Other health professionals are either members of their respective Associations or practice on an independent (unregulated) basis.
The HPC is to be created to protect the welfare and interest of the professionals as well as the public who makes use of their services. The HPC will be independent of government, professional bodies and trade unions, and designed as a multi-professional statutory regulator requiring registration. The HPC shall be created under legislation - The Health Professions Council Act - and applied to both the public and private sector.
The establishment of a HPC is intended to provide the following to health professionals presently not covered by any Act or regulatory Board. The HPC’s mandate (under guidance of the professional boards) in terms of the Act will be to:
- Promote and protect the health of the public
- Manage, administer and set policies relating to the professions registered with the HPC
- Investigate complaints relating to the professional conduct of practitioners, interns and students
- Administer the registration of persons governed by the HPC
- Set standards for the education and training of intending practitioner (through the professional boards)
Despite the progress made by the HPC Task Force, the current draft Bill requirsd detailed input from an expert with experience of the process of establishing and running an HPC-like institution.
Project Purpose
The legal and institutional documents to support the establishment of a Health Professionals Council in Mauritius are in place and approved by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life.
Project Outcome (Long-Term)
A Health Professionals Council is established and functioning in Mauritius.
Scope of Work
Summary of Project
This project will provide expert guidance to finalise the draft of the Health Professions Council Bill and associated documents to enable the setting up of a Health Professions Council in Mauritius. There is a need to set up the Health Professions Council (HPC) that is empowered by law to ensure that health professionals are duly registered, and a uniform standard for qualifications and practice is maintained in order to protect the professionals and members of the public.
The immediate beneficiaries will be health professionals and the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life which will gain the legal and institutional structures to regulate health practice and Associations. Completion of the project goal is expected to lead to a three-fold increase in registered health professionals thus ensuring quality health care delivery. Ultimately, the public as end-users of healthcare services will benefit from standardised practices of reputable quality within the health sector, delivering improved health care outcomes at the national level.
Project Outputs
- Review of existing draft Health Professions Council Bill and Documents
Expected Activities to include:
- Review of current drafts and direction for the HPC
- Give a critical appraisal of all documents prepared so far and advise on its applicability in the local context
- Revised and finalised Health Professions Council Bill (and documents)
Expected Activities to include:
- Draft of a revised report on the legislative submission to State Law Office (SLO)
- Presentation of, and consultation around, the revised report
- Finalisation of the Bill and documents for submission to SLO
Implementation Arrangements
- Responsible to Director, Governance and Institutional Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Reports to Project Manager, Governance and Institutional Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Government Counterpart - Chief Clinical Scientist and Chairperson of Task Force on Setting up of a Health Professions Council, Central Health Laboratory, Candos, Mauritius.
Transfer of Expertise
The Commonwealth Secretariat attaches particular importance to the transfer of expertise and knowledge to counterparts. The consultant in his/her discussions with the Reporting Officer should draw attention to the need for key staff to be assigned as counterparts at the beginning of the consultancy. This should be reported on in the Inception Report (due after one month). A capacity development plan for key counterpart staff should be produced by the consultant and agreed with the Reporting Officer during the Inception period. An update should be provided on this in all Progress Reports.
Qualifications and Work Experience
Candidates should possess:
- At least 10 years’ experience working in health sector governance
- Proven experience of developing the legislative and governance frameworks for Health Professions Councils or similar institutions
- Extensive experience of stakeholder consultation as part of a change process, preferably within the public sector
- Extensive knowledge of good practice for organisations serving health professionals including administration, policy advice and the promotion of professional standards
- Experience of working in the region would be an advantage
- Advanced degree or Professional Qualification (Masters Degree, MBA or equivalent) in Health Care Management, Public Administration or other relevant subject from a recognised and reputable institution.
Further Information
Legislative and Regulatory Adviser - Health Professions Councils
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