Council Committees

The Various Committees of the Council

The Terms of Reference (ToR) for various Council committees are as follows:

1. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is an Ad Hoc Committee with the Terms of Reference as follows:

Consider corporate, strategic decisions requiring ad hoc resolutions in-between the sittings of full Council.
Initiate and oversee preliminary procedures and investigations before referring to the Disciplinary Committee.
Receive and consider the Registrar’s Report.

2. Finance and Administration Committee

The objective of the Committee is to guide, monitor and supervise the financial and
administrative work of HPCZ and to advise the Council on appropriate policies and actions.

Receive, review and recommend to Council Annual and MTEF budgets,
Receive, review and approve Financial Statements,
Review and Recommend to Council appropriate performance management policies and reward systems,
Keep the Council informed on the Assets, Liabilities and Accounts of the Council on a quarterly basis,
Keep the Council informed on the human resource need and deployment of staff,
Develop and implement strategies for mobilization of financial, human and material resources of the organization including infrastructure,
Advise and recommend to the Council the best investment avenues for resource sustenance
Recommend to the Council such policies and actions as the Committee considers desirable or
Necessary for the fulfillment of the Council’s mandate in relation to Finance and Administration.

3. Health Professionals Registration Committee

The Committee is established in accordance to the First Schedule Section 5 (1) of the Health professions Act to manage the compliance of the practitioner’s to registration guidelines while also protecting the public. The Committee also focuses on the refinement of the regulations and procedures affecting registration, renewal of practicing certificates and prevention or alleviation of circumstances which may lead to impairment of practitioners.

Registration and renewal of practicing certificates for health professionals:

Receive applications from duly qualified Practitioners for the purpose of registration
Recommend for opening of new registers
To scrutinize applications for Specialist registration
To recommend assessment criteria for Specialist registration
To recommend assessments for foreign trained Specialist
To recommend to Council qualifications for Specialist registration
Recommend actions to be taken against practitioners who have not renewed their annual practicing certificates by 1st of January. Dealing with Impaired health Practitioners:
Establish mechanisms and procedures for the early identification of impairment in practitioners
Develop a system of dealing with health matters pertaining to practitioners registered with the Council, to assess and investigate alleged impairment and to manage impairment in practitioners
Recommend for the appointment of investigation committees on an Ad Hoc basis to undertake formal investigations into reports on alleged impairment in the absence of voluntary cooperation of practitioners, to make findings with regard to impairment and, if required, to impose conditions of registration or practice aimed at protecting of patients and treatment of impaired practitioners
Receive complaints regarding alleged impairment and initiate informal and formal investigations
Recommend for cancelation of practicing licence or suspension from practice to the disciplinary Committee
To consider reports from a rehabilitation Specialist assigned to supervise the impaired practitioner
To recommend restoration on the register
To develop performance assessment guidelines for early detection of impairment
Consider applications by practitioners who were found to be impaired to have their conditions of registration or practice amended or to have such conditions revoked.

4. Training & Examinations Committee

The Training and Examinations Committee deals with matters relating to training of health practitioners and administration of licensure examinations. This is in line with part IV of the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia.

To scrutinize the curricula of various training institutions that need to have their professions registered by the Council.
To develop and review the Assessment Tools for training programmes as need arises.
To constantly encourage various professions to undertake continuing education in order to promote professional development.
Review and recommend registration of health practitioners who pass licensure examinations
Develop and review the licensure examinations systems and recommend to the Council for approval
Review the nominations and recommend appointment for examiners
Review the indexing reports and recommend to the Council for approval
Attend to any other matters as may be determined by the Council

5. Health Facility Licensing Committee

The Health Facility licensing Committee is charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the general public through licensing of health facilities that meet the standards. The Committee is further required to review from time and time the standards of health care and recommend improvement.

Review inspections reports and recommend licensing of health facilities that meet the set standards.
Review and make recommendations on policies, regulations, procedures and standards that guide the operations of Health facilities.
Advise on enforcement actions related to non-compliant health facilities in line with the laws and Regulations.
Ensure promotion and maintenance of standards of health care.
Attend to any other matters as may be determined by the Council.

6. Health Services Accreditation Committee

The Health Care Accreditation Committee deals with matters related to accreditation of Health Care Services. This is in accordance with Part VI of the Health Professions Act 24 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia.

To develop and review accreditation guidelines
To develop and review assessment tools
To review assessment reports and recommend to the Council for approval
To advise the Council on any matters related to accreditation

7. Audit & Risk Compliance Committee

The charge of the Committee would be to review internal and external audit reports including managerial, administrative and financial audits.
The Committee resolved that the Audit, Risk and Compliance should be a Standing Committee and not an Ad Hoc Committee. The Committee further resolved to have a fixed Chairperson and rotate on the Vice – Chairperson.

8. Projects & Special Assignments Committee

The Committee had the charge of overseeing projects and special assignments of the HPCZ which are :

Outside routine management, administrative and mandate functions of the HPCZ
A member noted that the Chairperson of the Committee should be a standing one while on the Vice – Chairperson, the members should be appointed on Ad Hoc basis as assignments would vary

9. Disciplinary Committee

The Committee shall be charged with the following:

Consider and interpret professional misconduct
Transgressions of the code of ethics
Hear disciplinary cases