Professional Councils in Health |27 June 2025
Strengthening health professionals regulation
A five-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening the governance and regulatory capabilities of the three health professional regulatory bodies is underway this week.
The workshop brings together members of the Medical and Dental Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the Health Professionals Council for an intensive programme focused on professional self-regulation and effective council leadership.
The first two days of the workshop (Monday June 23 and Tuesday June 24) included joint sessions covering key topics relevant to all three councils. Participants were introduced to health professional regulation and examined the role and functions of a council, as well as the principles of professional self-regulation and council governance.
Other areas covered included soft-touch regulation, registration and accreditation processes, and the mutual recognition of qualifications. The agenda also addressed key issues such as medical education, continuous professional development (CPD), and approaches to fitness to practice and complaint management.
Representatives from the Social Workers Council were also invited to take part in these joint sessions. Although the Social Workers Council, a relatively new regulatory body, is not part of the health sector per se, the Ministry of Health believes it would benefit from the collective learning and experience shared during the workshop.
From Wednesday through Friday, the programme shifted focus to individualised technical sessions for each council. This tailored support was designed to address specific challenges and areas of concern unique to each regulatory body, enabling members to translate general knowledge into practical governance improvements.
The sessions are being facilitated by Commissioner Josephine Mwakutuya from the Health Commission of Zimbabwe. Ms Mwakutuya is an experienced regulator and former Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Zimbabwe. With over 20 years of leadership in professional regulation, she brings invaluable insight and guidance to support the professionalisation of health regulation in Seychelles.
This initiative by the Ministry of Health reflects a broader commitment to strengthening the institutional capacity and effectiveness of professional regulatory bodies, ensuring they are well-positioned to protect the public interest and uphold the highest standards of professional practice.
Text & photos: Contributed