Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla has confirmed the arrest of 124 fake doctors as a result of a crackdown by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), reports IOL. He revealed the information in a response to a parliamentary question.
He said that the doctors were able to avoid the system by taking cash payments, or working in the practices of registered doctors. Dr Phaahla noted that it was a criminal offence to practice medicine without being registered.
The arrests came as a result of the HPCSA establishing an Inspectorate to crack down on illegal practising medical workers. The Inspectorate currently has offices in all of South Africa’s provinces save Northwest and Northern Cape.
The relevant section of the Act reads [PDF]:
- (I) No person shall be entitled to practise within the Republic–
(a) the profession of a medical practitioner, dentist, psychologist or as an intern; or
(b) except in so far as it is authorized by the provisions of the Nursing Act, 1957 (Act No. 69 of 1957), the Chiropractors Act, 1971 (Act No. 76 of 1971), the Pharmacy Act, 1974, and sections 32, 33, 34 and 39 of this Act, for gain any other profession the practice of which mainly consists of-
(i) the physical or mental examination of persons;
(ii) the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of physical or mental defects, illnesses or deficiencies in man;
(iii) the giving of advice in regard to such defects, illnesses or deficiencies; or
(iv) the prescribing or providing of medicine in connection with such defects, illnesses or deficiencies,
unless he is registered in terms of this Act.
Source: IOL
