Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health

Purpose

The learners studying towards this qualification will exercise specialised knowledge and skills in an applied manner within the health sciences with an inherent continual personal intellectual growth, economic relevance as well as contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.The qualification should provide South Africa with a significant number of qualified competent postgraduate learners that will ensure a balance in health service delivery as well as effective health service leadership and management.

The purpose of the qualification is to build the country's vision and mission of universal health coverage and the re-engineering of Primary Health Care (PHC) through strengthening leadership and governance capacity within the health sector by preparing professionals to play leadership roles in the service delivery, research and management of health care systems in meeting the health needs of the community.

Rationale

The rationale of the qualification is to build the country's mandate for the universal health coverage and the Reengineering of the Primary Health Care (PHC) through strengthening leadership and governance capacity within the health sector. The qualification will prepare professionals to play leadership roles in the service delivery, research and management of health care system in meeting the health needs of the community.

The qualification will provide South Africa with a significant number of qualified competent postgraduate learners. Thus, the qualification will ensure a balance in health service delivery as well as adequate health service leadership and management.

The qualification will enable health leaders and practitioners to gain research and critical thinking skills. Thus, they will be able to provide service in line with the current and actual needs of their clients under their care.

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is a specialised sector based qualification which seeks to situate itself in bridging the gap between health policy and implementation. The qualification will target learners who want to develop a career in the public health sector.

The incumbent will be in a position to render leadership and management in comprehensive public services across all spheres of health. The rationale for this qualification is to enhance the capacity of learners within the health sector for them to work as agents of change focusing on health promotion than curative through evidence-based research and community/stakeholder empowerment.

In response to public health, the Ministry of Health announced Primary Health Care Re-engineering in preparation for the introduction of the Universal Health Coverage (National Health Insurance), which demands multidisciplinary and service delivery driven approach to the health of all South Africans.

A learner with this qualification will work within a multidisciplinary team with public health needs as a great focus. Learners will be able to initiate quality measures, and take full responsibility by exercising the monitoring and evaluation of every programme within the public sector. There is recognition in the health care field of the need to benchmark practices and work towards quality improvement, and to this end the qualification makes provision for a strong research component.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning for work done will consider the University's RPL assessment process/policy.

The RPL assessment process involves the process of collecting evidence and make judgments about the knowledge, skills and values. The method considers the competences of the learners against the outcomes of a desired module/course or the qualification.

Awarding credit to learners takes place by assessing their prior learning against the learning outcomes of the qualification or module/course(s). The University's RPL Policy for acceptance outlines the process for awarding credit.

• Access into a particular module or qualification when a learner is able demonstrate, through appropriate assessment(s) their competence against the Exit Level Outcomes.

Advanced standing results in the award of credits towards a qualification for which a learner has registered. Advanced status provides access to a level of a qualification higher than logical next level following on the preceding qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Health Sciences, Level 7 or equivalent.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 104 Credits

• Introduction to Public Health, 16 Credits.
• Governance and Leadership in Health, 16 Credits.
• Human Resources for Health Management, 8 Credits.
• Research Methodology for Health, 16 Credits.
• Health and Supply Chain Management, 16 Credits.
• Research Project for Health, 32 Credits.

Elective Modules, (choose three, 24 Credits)

• Environmental Health, 8 Credits.
• Health Management Information Systems, 8 Credits.
• Health Financing, 8 Credits.
• Service Delivery for Health, 8 Credits.
• Monitoring and Evaluation in Health, 8 Credits.

1. Understand the concepts and components of a health system.
2. Synthesise the concepts, elements and principles of good governance in health.
3. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the concepts, styles, characteristics and approaches in effective leadership.
4. Display management skills and practices.
5. Practice sound human resource management for health.
6. Apply health financing concepts, practices, processes and mechanisms.
7. Improve and manage service delivery in the health system.
8. Effectively manage the supply chain process in a health care environment.
9. Implement and apply monitoring and evaluation concepts, frameworks, tools and methods.
10. Apply research techniques.
11. Synthesise learning and insights through development of a mini dissertation.
12. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the concepts, styles, characteristics and approaches in effective leadership.
13. Display management skills and practices.
14. Develop and improve health management information systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Define concepts of a health system.
• Describe the components of a health system.
• Explain the importance of systems-thinking for health systems strengthening.
• Discuss the characteristics of a functioning health system.
• Describe the challenges and emerging health systems issue in Africa.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Define the concepts of good governance in health.
• Outline the principles and characteristics of good governance.
• Describe the governance structures in health and their functionaries at various levels.
• Discuss various health laws and health-related regulations impacting on good governance.
• Discuss factors that promote or hinder good practices on accountability and transparency.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Define the concepts and styles of leadership.
• Describe characteristics of effective leadership.
• Discuss the place of leadership in the health systems building blocks.
• Analyse approaches for effective leadership in health.
• Define the concepts and styles of leadership.
• Describe characteristics of effective leadership.
• Discuss the place of leadership in the health systems building blocks.
• Analyse approaches for effective leadership in health.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Define the concepts and principles of management for health.
• Describe the functioning and roles of a manager in health systems strengthening.
• Discuss strategic management approaches.
• Describe the characteristics of effective teams.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Define the concept of human resources for health in the context of health systems strengthening.
• Discuss the relevant human resources policies and plans in human resource management.
• Describe the process of human resource planning.
• Discuss performance management in the context of human resources for health.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Define health financing and related concepts.
• Discuss the mechanisms of financing health.
• Describe the processes of financial management.
• Discuss the use of financial expenditure monitoring tools.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Define the concepts and models of service delivery.
• Discuss the characteristics of effective service delivery.
• Describe the concepts and approaches in health facility accreditation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Define the concepts in supply chain management.
• Discuss the contribution of existing policies, laws and regulations in strengthening supply chain management.
• Describe procurement management practices in health.
• Describe an effective distribution and stock control system for supply chain management.
• Discuss appropriate quality control measure to enhance service delivery.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Define the concepts of monitoring and evaluation in the context of health systems strengthening.
• Describe the frameworks for monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Discuss tools and methods for monitoring and evaluation.
• Describe the role of evaluation research in health systems strengthening.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Conduct a literature review.
• Describe the methods and concepts in research.
• Develop a research proposal protocol.
• Submit a proposal for ethics approval.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11

• Conduct research and develop a mini dissertation.
• Make recommendations for improvement.
• Present the learning's and recommendations from the research project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12

• Define the concepts and styles of leadership.
• Describe characteristics of effective leadership.
• Discuss the place of leadership in the health systems building blocks.
• Analyse approaches for effective leadership in health.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 13

• Define the concepts and principles of management for health.
• Describe the functioning roles of a manager in health systems strengthening.
• Discuss strategic management approaches.
• Describe the characteristics of effective teams.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 14

• Define the concept of HMS.
• Describe the role and function of HMS in the context of health system strengthening.
• Discuss the contribution of HMS policies and legal frameworks in systems strengthening.
• Discuss the role of HMS in knowledge management in the context of health systems strengthening.
• Describe the process of evaluating and improving HMS.
• Describe the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in HMS strengthening.

Integrated Assessment

The Institutional assessment policy will be applied. Internal and external moderation will be done. Annual reviews will be conducted. Reports from internal course reviews and peer reviews when possible will be applied.

Integrated assessment strategies will be utilised across related modules and critical cross-field outcomes are applied. Integrated assessment takes the form of an appropriate variety of assessment methods, for example: written and oral examinations, problem solving assignments, projects presentations, case studies, portfolios, log books, clinical reports and objectively structured clinical examination, reflective practice journal and simulated scenarios.

Formative Assessment

Learning and Assessment will be integrated. The scheme of work includes tests and assignments, practical work and competency evaluation of practical skills. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work in limited number of outcomes.

Summative Assessment

Summative Assessments will evaluate the students' abilities to manage and integrate a larger body of knowledge and to achieve the stated outcomes. The summative assessment will also focus on the learners' ability to integrate knowledge and skills in the particular area of specialisation. Summative Assessments will include theory and practical assessments.

Experiential learning will be applicable where so required in workplace settings.