Registration

• It is one of the technical departments at the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM) secretariat
• Headed by the Director of Professional Practice and Conduct
• It comprises the following sections:

1.  The Examinations and Registrations
2. The Inspections and Investigations
3. The Continuous Professional Department
4. The Inspections and Registration (Mzuzu Office)

REPORTING STRUCTURE

The department reports to the office of the Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer and serves the following committees of the Council:

1. Education and Examination Committee
2. Professional Practice and Conduct Committee
3. Investigations committee
4. Disciplinary committee through the Registrar’s department

STATUTTORY MANDATE

The department gets its mandate from the Nurses and Midwives Act No. 16 of 1995 through:

1. Part VIII; Sections: 24 – 32, 35 – 41(Examinations and Registration)
2. Part IX; Sections: 42 – 44 (Private Practice)
3. Part XI; Sections: 50 – 55 (Investigations)
4. Part XII; Sections: 56 – 66 (Disciplinary Provisions)
5. Part XIII; Sections: 67 and 68 (Professional Practice)
6. Part XIV; Sections: 69 – 78 (Offences and Penalties)

Activities Carried out by the Department

1. Management of Licensure Examinations

• Recruitment of part-time examiners and moderators (content experts)
• Conduct test and measurement workshops
• Development of objective test items
• Compilation of developed test items into examination papers
• Moderation of developed test items
• Conducting Verification of candidates for licensure examinations
• Release of examination schedules/calendar
• Invigilation of the licensure examinations
• Marking of the licensure examinations
• Moderation of marked examination papers
• Release of licensure examination results

2. Registration of Nursing and Midwifery personnel:

• Production and issuing of registration certificates
• Verification of locally trained nursing and midwifery personnel intending to work outside Malawi
• Verification of nursing and midwifery personnel intending to work in Malawi
• Verification of nursing and midwifery personnel intending to study in Malawi
• Orientation of nursing and midwifery personnel trained outside Malawi
• Receiving nursing and midwifery personnel annual returns from institutions

3. Implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• Development/review of CPD policy and guidelines
• Development of compulsory CPD modules
• Training of CPD coordinators
• Conducting supportive supervision of CPD implementation in health facilities and training institutions
• Accreditation of CPD centres

4. Investigations of Cases lodged with Nurses and Midwives Council

• Conducting structured interviews with the nurse/midwife under investigation.
• Interviewing complainants, witnesses, supervisors, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluating the case against existing laws, policies, and standards of nursing and midwifery practice.
• Compiling findings, evidence, and analysis into a comprehensive report.
• Providing recommendations on whether the case should be closed, mediated, or referred to the Disciplinary Committee/

5. Inspection of health facilities
6. Verification of Human Resources for Health

• Checking availability and adequacy of qualified nurses, midwives, and support staff.
• Verifying valid registration and licensure of health workers with NMCM.
• Reviewing duty rosters and staff deployment to ensure compliance with staffing norms.

1. Assessment of Infrastructure and Equipment

• Inspecting physical facilities (wards, theatres, maternity units, outpatient and specialised units).
• Assessing adequacy of essential equipment, supplies, and utilities.
• Checking infection prevention and control (IPC) infrastructure (handwashing stations, sterilisation facilities, waste management).

1. Review of Clinical and Administrative Systems

• Examining patient care records, documentation practices, and adherence to protocols.
• Reviewing availability and implementation of clinical guidelines, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Checking referral systems and emergency preparedness arrangements.

1. Evaluation of Service Delivery Standards

• Assessing quality of nursing and midwifery care (maternal, neonatal, child health, surgical and medical nursing).
• Observing patient safety practices and patient rights protection.

1. Governance and Compliance

• Reviewing facility licenses, accreditation status, and regulatory documents.
• Assessing compliance with national laws, policies, and NMCM regulations.
• Documenting gaps, strengths, and making recommendations for improvement.

1. Reporting and Feedback

• Preparing inspection and compliance reports.
• Sharing findings with facility management for corrective action.
• Making follow-up plans to ensure implementation of recommendations.

1. Dissemination of regulatory tools

• Disseminate regulatory tools (Care standards, competences, code of ethics and conduct for nurses and midwives, compulsory CPD modules, etc.)