The Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme offered by the University of Botswana through its School of Medicine (SoM) has been accredited (recognised) by the Botswana Health Professions Council (BHPC).
Explaining how the process works, UB’s Director of Public Affairs, Mhitshane Reetsang, stated that as the professional licensing authority, BHPC looked at SoM’s academic curriculum, available resources, teaching and learning environment, assessment and quality assurance processes and compared them with set national and international standards.
“In this regard, the Botswana Health Professions Council has been satisfied that the programme content, teaching approach (problem-based learning) and the existing resources will produce doctors that will deliver quality services in the health care sector,” said Reetsang, adding that it is important for both students and the nation at large to know that SoM “wants to compare to the rest of world in the delivery of its programme.”
No changes in terms of delivery or quality of the programme will be introduced as a result of the accreditation.
SoM was established in 2008 and its MBBS programme has been running without accreditation. What might seem odd to those unfamiliar with the workings of academia is actually par for the course according to Reetsang.
“Accreditation is not a “one-time” event; it is a process aimed at ensuring continuous improvement. In 2007, the Botswana Health Professions Council participated in the development of the MBBS programme. At that time, there were no students, but the Council recognised the developed programme that it is comparable to similar programmes offered elsewhere for a similar degree programme. In 2012, the Council wrote to the School of Medicine that it was satisfied with the programme for training human resources for health professionals for Botswana,” she said.
Part of the planning around SoM was to put together what is known as the High Ranking Committee, which was made up permanent secretaries from the ministries of Finance and Development Planning, Local Government, Health and Education and Skills Development with the latter sitting at the head of the table. Membership of the Local Government PS ceased when Health took over clinics. The HRC was explicitly tasked with ensuring the promulgation of enabling legislation, which task entails the amendment of the Public Health Act. In terms of the plan to establish SoM, one of the key functions of the HRC is to ensure “the promulgation of enabling legislation (amended Public Health Act) for medical education and training in Botswana, embracing procurement and use of cadavers and organ transplants.” It took a long time coming but the Act was finally amended this year with provisions that deal specifically with human tissues and organs. According to the Act, those who qualify in terms of the Wills Act to make a living will can donate their bodies or specific tissues to be used after their death, authorising post-mortem examination of their bodies and nominating an institution to benefit from such donation. As the only medical school in Botswana, SoM stands to be the main if not only beneficiary.
On the other hand, Reetsang said that it is becoming commonly acceptable to use models for undergraduate medical training while the use of cadavers is more necessary for postgraduate studies, especially for surgical science-related programmes.
“The School of Medicine has adequate models for anatomical sciences training and soon will receive electronic equipment (Anatomage) which will complement the models and histological resources available,” she said.