OWN CORRESPONDENT, East London | Monday
SOUTH Africa’s medical watchdog body, the Health Professions Council (HPCSA), has launched a probe into kickbacks after an ethics survey confirmed widespread unethical behaviour in the medical profession.
The survey, by the Ethics Institute of South Africa, found that more than half of doctors had observed misconduct by a colleague. The misconduct relates mainly to over-servicing of patients or from receiving direct kickbacks for unnecessary services.
Based on a sample of 480 doctors, the results confirmed widespread unethical behaviour in the medical profession, said Ethics SA chief executive officer Willem Landman.
The survey was conducted in October and November last year and looked specifically at medical practitioners’ business ethics rather than professional ethics.
Of those who responded, 63% said they had observed misconduct by a colleague. Nearly two thirds of respondents said doctors supplement their income through over-servicing of patients. In addition, about 40% said doctors supplemented their income through arrangements with private hospitals or clinics.
“We are of the opinion that these findings relate to a small minority of doctors, and that most doctors conduct themselves ethically and maintain high standards of moral integrity,” said HPCSA representative Louise Emmerton.
The new disciplinary body will be headed by one of the HPCSA’s most senior members, Prof TJ Mariba. Mariba is vice-chairman of the HPCSA’s governing council, as well as chairman of the medical and dental board.
The first meeting of the newly-established committee of inquiry will be held on March 1.