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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Postgraduate Diploma: Community Health 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
19645  Postgraduate Diploma: Community Health 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  300  Level 7  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 091/21  2021-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 
The first purpose is to form part of the credentialing process, for medical and dental practitioners, to practice in the field of community and public health in the public and private sectors.

The second purpose is to provide broad subject knowledge in the discipline of Community Health, to acquire the necessary skills to be able to practice independently in community and public health and to develop attitudes appropriate to high standards in health management and administration, epidemiology and environmental and occupational health

The third purpose s to provide a basis for students who would desire to proceed to master's level in his field.

The fourth purpose is to provide for the legal requirements of health related legislation of South Africa and of international bodies. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree: MB,ChB, MB,BCh, BChD or equivalent qualification.

Additional requirements:

MB,ChB, MB,BCh, BChD or equivalent qualification acceptable to the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration as a medical practitioner in South Africa.

Two years of supervised medical practice which may include the internship year, and the year of compulsory community service

Current registration with the HPCSA as a medical practitioner. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
GENERAL OUTCOMES

b).

1. Demonstrate broad knowledge of health service delivery within applied models

2. Be able to effectively apply health sciences and health technology through a deep knowledge in the field of occupational health.

3. Be able to identify and find solutions to health related problems through the use of critical thinking.

4. To demonstrate leadership within the health provider groups and professionals

5. To communicate effectively with health service consumers, service providers, the general public and specific worker communities


SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

c).

1. Be able to describe, explain, quantify and prioritise the health risks facing individuals, communities and society at home, at work, at leisure and in transit

Be able to diagnose cases of commonly occurring preventable diseases, in order to make an insightful worker community diagnosis
  • Be able to describe the aetiology and epidemiology of commonly occurring health-related conditions
  • Be able to describe the burden of an occupational disease or group of diseases, in economic and medical terms for the individual, for the community and for society
  • Be able to formulate and prioritise appropriate public health research questions
  • Be able to interpret the design, implementation and report on the results of an epidemiological study
  • Be able to carry out a rapid epidemiological assessment, including the investigation of a disease outbreak.
  • Be able to interpret one's own data, as well as the data and findings of other investigators, including publications in the scientific literature.
  • Be able to motivate for adequate funding and resources required to carry out these activities

    2. Be able to explain, quantify and prioritise the health and health service needs of individuals, communities and society: at home, at work, at leisure and in transit
  • Be able to distinguish between impairment and disability, and to describe the nature of a disability for workers' compensation purposes.

    3. Be able to explain, quantify and analyse the nature, pattern and quality of health services provided for, and demanded by individuals, communities and society, including recommendations for an appropriate, acceptable and affordable level of service provision that is effective, efficient and equitable
  • Be able to describe occupational health services provided in terms of inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes
  • Be able to describe the nature and patterns of service provision an utilisation in terms of efficacy, efficiency, equity, acceptability, accessibility, and appropriateness (with respect to needs and affordability)
  • Be able to evaluate a health system.

    4. Be able to design and implement quality assured, effective, efficient, equitable, affordable and acceptable interventions to reduce, eliminate, or manage the health risks faced by individuals and communities at work, at home, at leisure and in transit.

    o Be familiar with the investigation of, and treatment for, uncomplicated commonly occurring occupational and communicable diseases, in order to be able to achieve the overall learning outcome with greater insight.

    o Be able to lead, communicate, advocate, plan and manage for a health promoting intervention at all levels of societal organisation

    o Be able to design, conduct and report on an intervention study

    o Be able to evaluate the processes and the results of health promoting interventions, and to modify the processes accordingly as required.

    5. Be able to interpret, understand and apply the relevant health and safety and labour legislation. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    b).
    To demonstrate confident, systematic and deep knowledge in the field of community health

    c).
    1. The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for the applicable NQF level.

    Outcome will be assessed through debate and management of specific applied issues

    The qualifying learner's written and oral presentations must be of adequate academic level in structure, organisation and presentation as applicable to this professional field of study.

    2 - 5. As for above.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

    1. Certification, by the head of the candidate's training department, that at least 25 weeks of learning will have taken place in an approved training environment, prior to the date of the first written examination paper.

    2. Certification, by the head of the candidate's training department, that the candidate has either passed and internal practical examination, or has satisfied the head of department as to his/ her practical abilities, prior to the date of the first written examination paper.

    3. Short report on a rapid epidemiological assessment or a critical literature review or a critical report of a small qualitative research project. Pass mark 50%

    4. Three, written, closed book examination papers, each potentially covering the entire syllabus, but collectively demonstrating a reasonable balance between the different sections

    5. An oral examination. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate oral communication skills by conducting a discourse on any topic relevant to public health medicine before a panel of examiners. This will provide for modification and verification of the final examination pass mark 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification serves as an entry point to the Master in Public Health (MPH)

    This qualification provides credits for the related qualification(s):

    MMed (Community Health)
    MChD (Community Dentistry)

    Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific

    MPhil in Pubic Health 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The university of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the university of Stellenbosch will be used in a manner that fits into the quality assurance system of the university. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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.
     
    1. Stellenbosch University 


    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.