Maputo, 3 Aug (AIM) – The Mozambican Order of Nurses (OEM) says that those nurses who are not registered in the Order have 45 days to regularize their situation in order to avoid sanctions in accordance with the law.
An Order is not the same as a trade union or an association. Whereas unions and associations are voluntary bodies, the Order is recognized by the Mozambican state, and membership is compulsory for anyone wishing to practice nursing.
According to a statement from the order, after the 45 day deadline, all unregistered nurses will be considered illegal and will be penalized for not having a professional licence.
“Anyone who, contrary to law or regulation, performs acts of a profession without holding the corresponding official title, diploma or authorization that legally entitles them to do so, shall be punished with imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years and a corresponding fine”, reads the statement.
The OEM says that the fees for registration and the annual membership dues vary according to category and the length of delay before registering.
“For example, a Nursing Technician B must pay a fee ranging from 1,700 to 6,450 meticais (from 27 to 100 US dollars, at the current exchange rate) depending on the number of years in arrears”, says the document.
A specialist nurse must pay sums ranging from 4,450 to 22,950 Meticais.
The Mozambican Association of Nurses, which is a voluntary body, and has nothing to do with the Order, has protested that the sums demanded by the Order are exorbitant.
A lawyer contacted by the independent daily “O Pais”, says there are no legal grounds for the Order to charge its members backdated membership fees.
(AIM)
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