OWN CORRESPONDENT, Pretoria | Friday
UNETHICAL business practices are common among South African doctors, with nearly two-thirds of doctors in a study about ethical practice in the medical profession that they had seen a colleague acting unethically.
According to a report in Afrikaans daily Beeld, almost two thirds (65%) said doctors supplement their income by over-supplying services and agreements with private hospitals and clinics (40%) – all of this to keep their patients satisfied and happy.
These are some of the findings from the first study of the new Ethic Institute of South Africa (EthicSA), which was announced in Sandton this week.
The organisation decided on this study as its first because of the dozens of allegations of corruption and kickbacks in the medical profession earlier this year, said Professor Willem Landman, the chief executive officer.
“This is sensitive information and could incriminate the profession. But it is clear that doctors want to expose these practices and root them out.”
Approximately 2000 doctors participated in the study.
It was found in the study that doctors are dedicated to ethical actions, and they believe that the profession sets higher standards than other professions.
However, they are frustrated by unrealistic medical aid tariffs, demands from the government and the conflicting interests of roleplayers such as managed health care and pharmaceutical companies.
A total of 45% of the doctors said it was difficult to be a good physician and manage a profitable practice. Approximately half of the respondents said doctors accepted cash payments at least once a month which were not declared to the Receiver of Revenue.
Landman said a major reason that was given for these bad practices, was that patients can’t pay doctors because their medical aid benefits are exhausted (95%).
About 75% of doctors said low medical aid tariffs contributed to bad practices.
The Board for Medical Professions of South Africa (BMP), the medical profession’s watchdog, which acts in the interests of patients, also came under fire.
About 90% of doctors say they have not received the board’s ethics code. Altogether 84% have also not received any documents regarding ethics from the BMP this year.
Landman said the overwhelming impression gained was one of a profession which is caught between the traditional dedication to ethically correct practices and increasing demands to survive financially.
According to Landman, medical aid tariffs, doctors’ salaries, better ethics codes and the role of the BMP should be examined.
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