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 Paediatrics

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
96557	Master of Medicine in Paediatrics
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town
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		Preventive 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
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

This qualification forms part of the accreditation process for medical practitioners, as specialists in Paediatrics and Child Health. The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) stipulates training requirements including a minimum period of academic training in paediatrics. It is usual for the examinations to be taken and passed prior to the completion of the required period of supervised training specified by the Health Professions Council of South Africa. The aim of this qualification is to meet the needs for formal examination certificates, as well as to set standards, nationally, for such a qualification (equivalent qualifications may be offered by the country's eight (8) medical schools.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

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

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB).

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

N/A

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Understand and apply the basic principles of physiology, microbiology, embryology, pathology and pharmacology to the pathogenesis and management of childhood disease.
2. Understand and prevent the risk factors to the neonate occurring in pregnant women.
3. Understand all aspects of nutrition in the growing child and to handle any nutritional deficiencies excesses that may occur.
4. In-depth knowledge of infectious diseases occurring in childhood particularly viral diseases, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, meningitis, tuberculosis.
5. In-depth knowledge of the causes of prematurity and to be able to handle prematurity related problems.
6. In-depth knowledge of normal growth and development in childhood and to be able to diagnose, investigate and manage children deviating from the norm.
7. In-depth understanding of the principles of preventative paediatrics including immunisation, monitoring of nutrition and prevention of infection.
8. Understand the genetic or hereditary conditions and to be able to diagnose and manage common inherited disorders.
9. Manage acute emergencies and respiratory distress in neonates.
10. Diagnose and treat all diseases encountered in new born infants.
11. Diagnose and manage all problems encountered in the perinatal and postnatal period in new born infants.
12. Diagnose and treat all illnesses occurring in children.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome:
1. Good working knowledge of the common conditions encountered in paediatric cardiology, nephrology, haematology, gastro-enterology, endocrinology, metabolic defects, neurology and rheumatology.
2. Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking.
3. Use science and technology appropriately.
4. Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity to the individual and community, acknowledging cultural and religious differences.
5. Organise and manage one's activities responsibly and effectively.
6. Collect, analyse and critically evaluate information.
7. Show sensitivity to the patient and community.

Integrated Assessment:
Certification by the Head of the candidate's Training Departments that at least 33 months of training in an Academic Paediatric Unit had taken place prior to the date of writing FCPaed Part Two.

Examination:
1. A primary examination (FCPaed Part 1). Two written three hour closed book examination papers covering all aspects of applied basic sciences in paediatrics with a reasonable balance between different sections; to be completed within the first 18 months of a 4 year programme.
2. A final qualifying examination (FCPaed II).
a) Two written three-hour closed book examination papers covering full spectrum of diagnostic and preventative paediatrics and management of paediatric disease with a reasonable balance between the sectors.
b) A 90 minute the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in which all aspects of laboratory and radiological diagnosis are covered.
c) A clinical examination lasting three hours in which the candidate examines three cases covering several aspects of paediatric disease. Overall pass marks of 50% with a minimal requirement of 40%, in both clinical and theoretical sections have to be passed for the candidate to be successful in the final qualifying examination with the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and closed book examination questions compromising the theoretical section.
3. A dissertation Master of Medicine (MMed). Reporting the results of an analytical, clinical or epidemiological study carried out and interpreted by the candidate and assessed by internal and external examiners as satisfactory.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

N/A

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows for vertical articulation

Fellow of the College of Paediatrics (South Africa).

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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 Cape Town