East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACOP)

10 years of ECSACOP: Training physicians, transforming healthcare

From six founding nations to a thriving regional network, ECSACOP’s first decade is a story of innovation, resilience and collaboration – transforming physician training and improving healthcare across East, Central, and Southern Africa.

ECSACOP was launched in 2015 as a regional college under the ECSA College of Health Sciences. Its founding countries – Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – came together with a shared mission: to strengthen internal medicine training and improve healthcare across the region.

Building foundations

In 2016, ECSACOP hosted its first annual scientific conference and AGM in Zimbabwe, setting the stage for collaboration and knowledge sharing. By 2017, Uganda welcomed the second conference, and ECSACOP began developing its Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with support from WHO-AFRO, introducing innovative digital learning tools.

Training begins

The year 2018 marked a turning point: ECSACOP launched its first training programme with 14 pioneering trainees and three accredited sites. Faculty development was prioritised ensuring strong mentorship and academic standards.

Growth and resilience

By 2019, ECSACOP had expanded its training network and celebrated the achievements of its first-generation trainees in Uganda. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, ECSACOP adapted swiftly, moving conferences and training online to maintain momentum.

Milestones achieved

In 2022, ECSACOP held its inaugural graduation ceremony in Lilongwe, Malawi – an inspiring moment as the first cohort of resident doctors became fellows. The college continued to grow, reaching 128 trainees and 19 accredited sites by 2023.

Innovation and collaboration

The years 2024–25 brought new initiatives: the first BIA-ECSACOP physician exchange programme, the introduction of PACES-formatted clinical exams in Mombasa, and the addition of South Sudan as ECSACOP’s seventh member country. With multiple new training sites accredited and strong international partnerships with organisations such as the RCP, ECSACOP’s role in advancing healthcare and education is stronger than ever.

The RCP – ECSACOP partnership

The RCP supports ECSACOP in their mission through technical expertise, governance support, and long‑standing experience in postgraduate medical education, delivered in a way that ensures the programme remains locally led and contextually relevant.

What we do together

Advising the college: RCP has supported ECSACOP’s founding and ongoing governance, contributing strategic advice and participating as an observer in Council and partnership governance structures. 

Developing a world‑class training programme: We’ve helped ECSACOP shape its curriculum, examinations and competency‑based training model, ensuring they reflect local priorities and international best practice. 

Strengthening education and faculty: RCP Fellows contribute teaching, clinical supervisor training, and academic input, helping ECSACOP deliver high‑quality, context‑relevant medical education across its constituent countries.

Mobilising sustainable funding: The RCP supports fundraising efforts, stewarding donor contributions and ensuring transparent financial management through established grant processes. 

Building ECSACOP’s organisational capability: We collaborate on core documents, communications and strategic planning, while sharing insights from the RCP’s long experience in membership, fellowship and professional engagement. 

Connecting ECSACOP with new partners: The RCP introduces ECSACOP to global organisations, funders and medical bodies, helping grow the network that supports the college’s long‑term vision. 

Our shared impact: Through this partnership, ECSACOP is establishing a regional gold‑standard physician training programme and empowering locally trained physicians to meet the evolving health needs of communities across East, Central and Southern Africa.