SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Master of Medicine in Occupational Medicine

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
102942	Master of Medicine in Occupational Medicine
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Curative Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2021-07-01	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
This qualification focuses specifically in Occupational Medicine and provides learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to register as specialists in Occupational Medicine with the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the HPCSA. This qualification provides opportunities for the training and development of registrars in Occupational Medicine. The qualification aims to provide learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and for contributing to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship and leadership in the field of Occupational Medicine.

Rationale:
The qualification responds to the critical shortage of medical specialists in the country in rural areas. A higher level of responsiveness to diverse regional and national human resources, skills and knowledge needs in healthcare provision, in particular for rural areas and the public sector which is in line with the social accountability focus of the Health Sciences. The qualification aims to produce holders of a Master of Medicine in Occupational Medicine, which will be much needed for the implementation of the NHI to ensure equitable health care for all. The qualification contributes to enhancing the employability of healthcare professionals and alleviating shortages of expertise in the field of Occupational Medicine Medical doctors with MBChB and registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a medical practitioner Independent Practice.

The qualification targets qualified, and Health Professionals Council (HPC) registered medical practitioners to address the need of employees, employers and communities with the multidisciplinary occupation health team. The qualification is fully aligned with the education to provide and encompass all facets of health science-related occupational health as a sub-component of holistic health. The qualification will prepare the learners for the world of a specific domain. The qualification would be a viable qualification for an appointment as an occupational medical specialist practitioner as define in the South African Occupational health-related legislation.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution does not recognise prior learning experience.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.
And

Registration with HPCSA as a medical practitioner.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 648 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 648 Credits:

Administrative theory and the health-related social sciences, 108 Credit.

Communicable and non-communicable health and related conditions, 108 Credit.

Occupational medicine (Dissertation), 108 Credit.

Epidemiologic theory, biostatistics and demography, 108 Credit.

Occupational Hygiene, 108 Credit.

Occupational Medicine, 108 Credit.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Establish and maintain the relationships and responsibilities of the occupational physician with management, trades unions, employees, and other branches of the profession/other appropriate agencies.

Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of applicable legislation covering health and safety at work.

Plan and manage health services in the work environment settings and includes the coordination of related support services, government agencies and private resources.

Demonstrate specialist knowledge in Occupational and Industrial Hygiene to enable engagement with and critique of current research or practices competently.

Anticipate, recognise, evaluate, and control exposures of workers and others to physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial factors, agents, and stressors that can potentially cause related diseases and dysfunctions.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit Level Outcomes in an integrated manner:

Provide a comprehensive, in-depth overview and critically evaluate the organisation of occupational health services in the SA;

Critically discuss and interpret the current health and safety at work legislation;

Provide a comprehensive, in-depth overview of common and uncommon occupational hazards and diseases, their assessment and management;

Demonstrate a coherent, integrated body of embedded knowledge and skills with regards to the associated disciplines such as occupational hygiene, toxicology, epidemiology and ergonomics;

Identify agents, factors, and stressors generated by and associated with defined sources, unit operations, and processes;

Describe qualitative and quantitative aspects of the generation of agents, factors, and stressors;

Understand physiological and toxicological interactions of physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic agents, factors, and stressors with the human body;

Assess qualitative and quantitative aspects of exposure assessment, dose-response, and risk characterisation based on applicable pathways and modes of entry;

Calculate, interpret, and apply statistical and epidemiological data;

Recommend and evaluate engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment controls and other interventions to reduce or eliminate hazards;

Demonstrate the importance of appropriate ethical performance and practice;

Demonstrate an understanding of applicable business and managerial practices;

Interpret and apply applicable occupational and environmental regulations;

Participate in the development and implementation of applicable industrial hygiene-related programmes;

Generate, review and interpret data, whether from original research or other published sources;

Prepare scientific and technical summaries and reports;

Understand fundamental aspects of safety and environmental health;

Understand the necessity of teamwork among management, industrial hygienists, safety specialists, environmental specialists, engineers, and clinicians (i.e., occupational health physicians and nurses); and

Attain recognised professional certification.

Integrated Assessment:
The final examination will be a written part of 2 separate 3 hour papers for Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Medicine undertaken after 3 (three) years of enrolment as a registrar. A dissertation passed separately and independently and a subminimum of 50% is required. Supervision and continuous assessment is done over 3 years when work is performed in occupational health care services under the auspices of a registered occupational medicine specialist.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Reciprocity with the General Medical Council in Ireland and Great Britain exists if the Candidate also has the Fellowship of the College of Public Health Medicine of South Africa - Occupational Medicine qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Master of Occupational Therapy, NQF Level 9.

Vertical Articulation:

Doctor of Occupational Therapy, NQ Level 10.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

NONE