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 Family Medicine 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
9623  Master of Medicine in Family Medicine 
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Rehabilitative Health/Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the qualification is to produce graduates:
  • With special training in Family Medicine at a level that will allow them to register as a specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
  • Who can provide comprehensive and continuous patient-centred medical care to individuals, their families and the community, using a bio-psychosocial approach, and the ability to guide junior candidates if the graduate is in an educational setting.
  • With expertise in research, which includes the ability to evaluate and implement research findings in the practice of the branch of Family Medicine.

    Hence, graduates have competency in the practice of Family Medicine and can contribute to the need for the highest standard of clinical practice and optimal research skills in the health sciences in South Africa. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    Applicants who fall outside of the regular admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have a qualification or experiential- or work-based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification specified above (under Formally Accredited Learning), may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning. Applicants who, after such assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but need further academic development, may be required to broaden their curriculum to include preliminary programmes before admission or parallel programmes after admission.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.
  • Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Registrability.
    The qualifying learner shows competence in clinical and academic skills, of a sufficient standard, which allows the learner to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Family Physician.

    2. Attitudes and Values.
    The qualifying learner shows ethical, compassionate and skilled ability to conduct all aspects of health care and demonstrates the attitudes necessary for the achievement of generalist standards of medical practice, both in relation to the care of individuals and populations and to his or her own personal continuing professional development.

    3. Research Ability.
    The qualifying learner shows expertise in research and the ability to evaluate and implement research findings in the practice of the branch of Family Medicine.

    4. Application of Knowledge.
    The qualifying learner has knowledge of the principles and practice of medicine, from the basic to the advanced level.

    5. Communication and Psychomotor Skills.
    The qualifying learner is competent in clinical skills at the family physician level.

    6. Self Development.
    The qualifying learner will have acquired and will demonstrate self direction and independence in his or her learning in order to become a lifelong learner, and will recognise personal education needs, utilise appropriate learning situations and evaluate her or his own progress. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. The qualifying learner demonstrates special skills of a standard which enables the leaner to sit the written and clinical MFamMed examinations of the University; passing the examination with three years of MFamMed study and completing a research project and report in the field allows the learner to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Family Physician.

    2. The qualifying learner:
  • Shows respect for patients and colleagues without prejudice, with an understanding and appreciation of their diversities of background and opportunity, language and culture.
  • Where applicable, refers patients to practitioners who are more appropriately qualified than he or she is to manage certain conditions.
  • Demonstrates an awareness, through actions or in writing, of the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in individual patient care, in the provision of care to populations and of both the impact of health care on the environment as well as the impact of the environment on health.
  • Strives to improve patient care, to reduce inequalities in health care delivery, to optimise the use of health care resources in our society and uses his or her professional capabilities to contribute to community as well as to individual patient welfare by the practice of this branch of medicine.

    3. The qualifying learner:
  • Shows research mastery through the production of a research report which demonstrates skills including the ability to evaluate research, review literature, design and perform a study, collect data, perform and interpret statistical analyses on data, interpret results and draw conclusions.
  • Practices Evidence-Based Medicine by critically evaluating published literature in the field (e.g. on the topics of new therapies and drugs).
  • Is able to guide junior candidates who are studying or working in the same branch of specialisation.

    4. The qualifying learner demonstrates, through clinical practice at the family physician level, the application of knowledge from the basic to the advanced level.

    5. The qualifying learner:
  • Is able to communicate efficiently and effectively with the patient, other health care workers and the community, e.g. in order to obtain a history, to communicate a treatment regime and explain the medical condition.
  • Uses problem-solving techniques, which draw on her or his multi-faceted knowledge, in order to arrive at a diagnosis for a patient.
  • Shows sustained competence in psychomotor skills necessary for the practice of specialist skills in the branch studied.
  • Is competent and responsible in the use of tools and equipment necessary for the practice of specialist skills in the branch studied.

    6. The qualifying learner is able to:
  • Use appropriate strategies for learning that will prepare him/her for continued professional development throughout life, both as doctors and as responsible citizens.
  • Acknowledge responsibility for vocational training in Family Medicine and for continuing professional education in order to keep up-to-date with new developments.
  • Identify personal limitations and develop the capacity of self-audit and participate in the peer review process, showing a willingness to seek help when necessary.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment is performed on a continuous basis through evaluation of performance in clinical practice. Further, the research report that the learner submits is used for the integrated assessment of research mastery. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Cognate Master of Medicine, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Medicine in Family Medicine, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Family Medicine, Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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. University of Witwatersrand 


    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.