Background

Rwanda Medical and Dental Council was legally founded in 2001 as Rwanda Medical Council. It became later the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council in 2013, established by Law Nº44/2012 of 14/01/2013 (Official Gazette nº 02 of 14/01/2013).

The Council as a regulatory body takes a proactive role in setting world class standards for medical and dental practice in Rwanda to protect the population well. The main objective of the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council is to protect the population as we guide the profession through establishing standards and guidelines that regulate the medical & dental practice in Rwanda.

Dr Emmanuel Rudakemwa, the Chairman of the Council says that patients require, at all times, to have fast and professional medical care with the medical personnel employing and observing all the defined standards and ethics with honesty & integrity.

Mission

The Council is responsible for the compliance with the rules, honor and dignity of the medical profession.

•    The Council ensures compliance with the principles of morality, integrity and dedication essential to the practice of the medical profession.

•    The Council ensures that all Medical and Dental Practitioners comply with their professional requirements and the laws and regulations governing the medical profession.

Core functions of the Rwanda Medical & dental council:

The Chairman of Rwanda Medical and Dental Council; Dr Emmanuel Rudakemwa says the main functions of the council are the guidance of the profession and protection of the population through:

a. Registration and Licensing:  Medical and Dental Practitioners are required to be registered once and renewing their license to practice every year. This is mandatory to all medical & dental practitioners.

b. Temporally registration of Intern Doctors: this is to facilitate the intern doctors to train on human subjects under strict supervision (Relevant the Forms may Rwanda Medical and Dental Council committed to Monitoring and enforcing standards for quality medical Practice be downloaded from the council’s website: www. rmdc.rw).

c. Medical schools and teaching Hospitals inspection and recognition: The council ensures that the medical & dental curricula are up to the standards, and we also ensure that the graduates are recognizable and registrable in the EAC and by other sister councils in Africa. 

d. Litigations management:  Up-to day about 130 cases of Malpractice have been handled by the Rwanda Medical & dental council (negligence and incompetence) and closed.

These cases were deeply investigated, disciplinary and corrective measures were taken against some practitioners including temporally suspension accompanied with proctorship program/re training. 

e. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program: Every practitioner must maintain and update his/her professional knowledge. The practitioner is required to have at least 50 CPD points every year.

f. Credentialing: The council carries out Doctors’ grading regularly (Annually) or on request. This ensures that medical and Dental practitioners’ experience and hard work are recognized and rewarded.

Achievements

Dr. Rudakemwa says that in the 15 years of its existence, RMDC has achieved a lot in relation to the set objectives:

Registration and licensure of all medical and dental practitioners working in Rwanda or those coming from outside has been strictly observed and complied with.

Registered  Medical and Dental Practitioners

Council Examination of Medical Doctors with Foreign Degrees and no registration from countries of study were organized and successful candidates were fully registered after presentation of the certificate of internship completion

b. RMDC good relationships with regional & international sister regulatory bodies:

• RMDC is recognized by all medical councils/Boards in the region and beyond. All medical personnel from Rwanda are allowed to work in EAC member states and vice-versa.

• The regional guidelines and checklist for inspection and recognition of dental schools and teaching hospitals in EAC partner states were developed and have been implemented. Joint inspections of all medical& dental schools and teaching hospitals in the EAC partner states was completed in May, 2016.

•    RMDC as Member of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA); various protocols were signed including  protocol on Internship training, CPD, Impaired physicians, Fitness to practice, Disciplinary measures and procedures, Information exchange etc.

RMDC has signed MOU with the National Prosecutions authority and the Rwanda National Police to ensure medical malpractice is better managed as we all protect the population and guide the Medical & dental profession. This has improved our partnership and collaboration with these institutions in serving common purpose.

Development of CPD policy for Medical Doctors and Dentists:

•    Integrated CPD policy for all health professionals’ councils

•    Policy and Draft law establish Rwanda Health Professional Regulatory Authority

•    Ministerial Order establishing internship for Medical Doctors

d. Communication  with professionals and the Population As the main objective of the Rwanda Medical and Dental Council is to protect the population as we guide the profession the following tools were put in place to facilitate communication:

 •   The RMDC database and website (www.rmdc.rw) were upgraded national development

 The Council has played a significant role in the development and guidance of the medical & Dental profession and therefore ensuring good medical practice and welfare of the population. RMDC supports the building of capacities of the medical & dental practitioners through continuous medical and dental Education (CPD).  For new investors in the health sector, they always seek guidance on the available opportunities, regulation frameworks and the number and quality of personnel in the sector.

Challenges

The major challenge is the small number of medical practitioners despite the tendency towards increment. The council has the responsibility of working with universities that teach human medicine for ensuring good skill mix.

As we celebrate 22^nd liberation anniversary In Dr Rudakemwa’s message, on behalf of RMDC, good health and liberation from disease and poverty is their pledge to Rwandans: healthy body, for wealthy people! "It is imperative for Rwandans to be healthy, productive and therefore contribute to national development.

RMDC ensures that Rwandans receive the best medical services through the monitoring, enforcement of ethics and standards.

c. Law and policies development

The chairman of the Council reported that, the following laws and policies were developed:

Law N°49/2012 of 22/01/2013 establishing medical Professional liability insurance

Law Nº44/2012 of 14/01/2013 on the Organization, functioning and Competence of the medical and Dental council

•    Ministerial Instruction establishing the Continuing Profession al

•    Communication channels with the population: free hotline 3024

•    Retention list available to the public and employer on the website (www.rmdc.rw)

•    The website platform is used for all CPD events to practitioners and other news &events from professional societies and associations.

•    TV/Radio debated were also organized the building of capacities in the medicine world.

The trust that the public has in medical practitioners has exponentially improved. "Rwandans should increase the consumption of medical services, with, especially, having regular checkups, prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The community based Health insurance (CBHI) and other medical insurance covers are a guarantee for all to get medical services with less out of-pocket payments.

The RMDC wishes every Rwandan a happy 22^nd Liberation Anniversary, and healthy prosperous lives.” We congratulate  and wish healthy and prosperous life to HE the president of the Republic, HE Paul Kagame, all the members of cabinet, Judiciary, ALL THE SECURITY FORCES & SERVICES and all Rwandans.