The document outlines the roles and responsibilities of Clinical Officers General (COGs) in Zambia's healthcare system, emphasizing their training to provide basic clinical services and preventive care. It details the curriculum objectives for COGs, which include developing medical knowledge, patient care skills, and professionalism. Additionally, it highlights career prospects for COGs across various healthcare settings and the values underpinning the program.

1. Roles and responsibilities
of a Clinical Officer in
Health Facilities
By Mr NTANGA

2. Who is a Clinical Officer General
A Clinical Officer General (COG) graduate is a healthcare
professional who is trained to
practice medicine and licensed by the Health Professions
Council of Zambia (HPCZ) to offer
and perform basic clinical services in primary health care
Scope Of practice
A Clinical Officer General is trained to provide curative and
preventive health care services;
primary health care services. Furthermore, a COG should be
able to refer patients to appropriate
level of health care. The roles of a COG in the health care
system include: managing needs of
clinical care, carrying out administrative roles and
responsibilities, and participating in research
and teaching.

3. Career Prospects
The COGs are mainly employed as frontline officers in
healthcare facilities. The COGs are the
cornerstone of rural healthcare services. Apart from working
in healthcare facilities in both
private and public institutions, COGs can work in None
Governmental organisation which
operate in healthcare and health promotion activities.
The diploma programme is the entry level in the field that can
expand to specialist levels in the
different fields of medicine and its subspecialties.

4. AIM OF THE PROGRAMME
The goals of the curriculum are to:
i.
Provide a Clinical Officer General student with medical
knowledge, skills and
attitudes to engage in clinical practice
ii.
Produce Clinical Officer General who will be able to:

5. ▪
Provide quality health care services in a wide variety of
clinical and
community settings.
▪
Appreciate social and cultural effects on the delivery of health
care through
exposure to a wide variety of clinical settings reflecting on the
diversity of
patients and the communities in which they live.
▪
Utilise current information system and technology to enhance
their delivery
of health care services

6. iii.
Equip students with an understanding of health policies
and delivery system as
well as their role as health professionals in the health
sector.

7. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
By the end of the three-year training programme, the
graduate should be able to:
i.
Apply appropriate clinical biomedical sciences in the care of
patients
ii.
Apply knowledge of behavioural and social sciences in the
management of
patients and clients
iii.
Demonstrate observation of medical ethics, human rights
relevant to medical

8. iv.
Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively
v.
Take history of the patient appropriately
vi.
Perform physical examination of patients correctly
vii.
Demonstrate ability to correctly manage patients/clients
viii.
Demonstrate ability to manage health care facility

9. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
ix.
Function in a multidisciplinary team
x.
Demonstrate understanding of health-related research
processes
xi.
Apply knowledge and skills for information technology

10. PROGRAMME COMPETENCES
At the end of the programme the graduates shall exhibit the
following competencies
Medical knowledge
i.
Basic and clinical sciences in the management of patients
appropriate to
their level of care.
ii.
Order and interpret appropriate investigations.
Patient care
i.
Obtain a thorough medical history
ii.
Develop and carry out patient management plans.

11. iii.
Counsel and educate patients and their families.
iv.
Competently perform medical and surgical procedures
considered essential
in the area of practice.
v.
Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviours when
interacting with
patients and their families
vi.
Provide health care services and education aimed at
maintaining health and
preventing health problems.
vii.
Work effectively with other health care professionals to

12. Interpersonal and communication skills
i.
Communicate effectively with the patients, family and
health care team.
ii.
Demonstrate emotional resilience and stability,
adaptability, flexibility, and
tolerance of ambiguity and anxiety.
iii.
Accurately and adequately document and record
information regarding the
care process for medical, legal, quality and financial
purposes

13. Professionalism
i.
Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound
relationship with
patients.
ii.
Exhibit -culturally sensitive and acceptable behaviour
when interacting with
patients, family and other caregivers.
iii.
Adhere- to ethical, legal and regulatory requirements of
the profession.

14. System based practice
i.
Apply medical information and clinical data systems to
provide effective
and efficient patient care.
ii.
Manage and refer patients to appropriate levels of care
iii.
Demonstrate understanding of the funding sources and
payment systems
that provide coverage for patient care.
iv.
Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation
that does not
compromise quality of care.

15. System based practice
v.
Work in a multidisciplinary team of health care
professionals.
vi.
Use information technology to support patient care

16. VALUES OF THE PROGRAMME
The values governing the programme are:
i.
Excellence
ii.
Integrity
iii.
Commitment
iv.
Cooperation
v.
Innovations
vi.
Empathy
vii.
Continuing professional development