Public Health Medicine training as a lever for Health System strengthening in South Africa
1
Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, Cape Town, South Africa
2
School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
3
Department of Public Health, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
4
Groote Schuur Hospital, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, Cape Town, South Africa
5
Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
6
Colleges of Medicine South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
7
School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
8
Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians, Harare, Zimbabwe
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3520
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
South Africa continues to reform its national health service and systems based on a policy of equity, solidarity, and sustainability. Success and sustainability are dependent on the training of a competent public health workforce delivering population-oriented essential public health services.
OBJECTIVE:
This paper provides an overview of professional career development in Public Health Medicine (PHM) specialty training.
METHODS:
This desk review describes existing public health specialty training frameworks delivered through University-based Master of Medicine (MMed) programmes in PHM in the context of other public health training programmes, particularly the Master’s in Public Health (MPH).
RESULTS:
Doctors specialising in PHM undertake a four-year residency embedded within health services, jointly trained by a local university. In their final year, residents complete a fellowship exam with the College of Public Health Medicine of South Africa. Successful completion enables registration with the HPCSA as a PHM specialist. The hallmark of the residency is its apprenticeship model, focused on experiential learning through rotations across provincial departments, facilities and/or district-level services, supplemented by formal teaching and a standardised curriculum. PHM specialists develop a deep vocational understanding of the health system with a broad range of nationally benchmarked competencies. Universities offer other postgraduate public health programs with broad entrance criteria beyond medical graduates. However, these offer little experiential training, which is a key lever for health systems strengthening. While some MPH programmes offer in-depth specialisation, there is no standardisation of curricula or competencies across universities nor are they directly linked to in-service needs. Competency-based education and training is emerging as a cornerstone of health system strengthening to provide equitable, quality health services.
CONCLUSIONS:
PHM training builds professional leaders equipped to tackle complex health systems and is complemented by a broader landscape of public health training in South Africa.
South Africa continues to reform its national health service and systems based on a policy of equity, solidarity, and sustainability. Success and sustainability are dependent on the training of a competent public health workforce delivering population-oriented essential public health services.
OBJECTIVE:
This paper provides an overview of professional career development in Public Health Medicine (PHM) specialty training.
METHODS:
This desk review describes existing public health specialty training frameworks delivered through University-based Master of Medicine (MMed) programmes in PHM in the context of other public health training programmes, particularly the Master’s in Public Health (MPH).
RESULTS:
Doctors specialising in PHM undertake a four-year residency embedded within health services, jointly trained by a local university. In their final year, residents complete a fellowship exam with the College of Public Health Medicine of South Africa. Successful completion enables registration with the HPCSA as a PHM specialist. The hallmark of the residency is its apprenticeship model, focused on experiential learning through rotations across provincial departments, facilities and/or district-level services, supplemented by formal teaching and a standardised curriculum. PHM specialists develop a deep vocational understanding of the health system with a broad range of nationally benchmarked competencies. Universities offer other postgraduate public health programs with broad entrance criteria beyond medical graduates. However, these offer little experiential training, which is a key lever for health systems strengthening. While some MPH programmes offer in-depth specialisation, there is no standardisation of curricula or competencies across universities nor are they directly linked to in-service needs. Competency-based education and training is emerging as a cornerstone of health system strengthening to provide equitable, quality health services.
CONCLUSIONS:
PHM training builds professional leaders equipped to tackle complex health systems and is complemented by a broader landscape of public health training in South Africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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