The East African Parliament has okayed the establishment of a joint regulatory body for clinical officers in the region . A meeting between the parliament committee dealing with Health and the leadership of GACOPA East Africa Chapter reveals this development .
Members of the Global Association of Clinical officers and Physician Associates led by the President Austin Oduor held a consultative meeting with the East African Community wing of the legislative assembly .
The meeting that was chaired by Hon Denis Namaara ,MP discussed measures on how a joint regulatory body for clinical officers can be initiated.
Hon Namaara who is also the chairman of the General Purposes Committee , a Committe that also handle Health matters said he will engage relevant stakeholders and work with GACOPA East Africa to come up with a legislative framework for the realization of this type of council .
Proposals to engage the Health Department of tbe Secretariat of the community where different stakeholders including the inter university council of east Africa , the member states regulatory bodies was also discussed . This discussions will lead to formation of a draft bill that will be tabled to Parliament which if amended , will set the stage for the joint regulatory team .
” We are here with the clinical officers leadership and we have discussed on how we will come up with the joint regulation legal framework .The lawyers are here for the same and it’s the mandate of the East African Community to ensure the free trade ,free movement of goods and labour is implemented. we will work with GACOPA and it’s leadership to realize this “Hon Denis Namaara said
Also speaking at the function was the clerk to the Assembly Mr Alex Obatre who admitted that it’s possible to have the council so long as a draft legal framework is tabled at the parliament . He assured GACOPA members of full support .
The meeting was attended by the Burundi Clinical Officers Association Secretary General Mr Jean Claude Ngendakumana , his Ugandan counterpart Alex Kachwano ,Medical Clinical officers Professionals of Uganda President Paul Kyaterekera , Tanzania Association of Clinical officers and Clinical Assistants Executive member Elizabeth Marco ,Hasahya Joseph (Uganda ) ,Annnet Namugosa ( Uganda Allied Health Board ) and Director of Communications GACOPA Viola Mujjukizi.
On his part , the GACOPA President Austin Oduor said ” The treaty for the establishment of the East African Community allows for free movement of labour and the efforts by GACOPA to advocate for the establishment of a Joint Clinical officers Regulatory body for East Africa is a welcome move . I want to assure our members from all over East Africa that we will walk the talk and ensure this becomes a reality ”