Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
26 June 2009
Maputo — The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Friday passed the second and final reading of a bill that tightens the regulations governing private medicine.
The bill was amended in committee to ensure that all private medical units (including those dispensing so-called "alternative medicine") must be staffed by properly qualified personnel.
The owners of a private clinic do not necessarily have to be doctors, but must be persons "of good repute". However, those they employ must have recognised medical qualifications, and they must be professionally registered - which means that their qualifications must be recognised by Mozambique's Order of Doctors.
The technical director of a private health unit must present "a certificate of professional fitness in the area of health, the validity of which is recognised in Mozambique", and must have been practicing for at least five years.
Other health workers in a private clinic do not require prior experience, but they too must have qualifications that are recognised in Mozambique.
This will make it virtually impossible for homeopaths or other practitioners of "alternative medicine" to set up clinics, since none of the qualifications for these bogus and unscientific practices is recognised by any official Mozambican body.
The bill allows health professionals in the public sector to go into private practice - but only with the authorisation of the director of the public health unit where they are working, who must indicate the hours permitted for their private practice.
The bill passed unanimously, and when become law when promulgated by President Armando Guebuza and published in the official gazette, the "Boletim da Republica".
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