Fraudulent, negligent and malpractising doctors will soon be facing much more stringent disciplinary procedures, the Health Professions Council (HPC) said on Tuesday.
”Some of the sentences have been inappropriately light. The medical profession must see us as taking these offences seriously,” said Nicky Padayachee, the newly appointed HPC president.
Padayachee hopes to transform the regulatory body into a transparent, accountable and efficient public servant within a year, he told the media in Johannesburg.
One of Padayachee’s major changes will be to have 50% community representation on all committees, and to give the chairperson the right to report directly to council.
This would perhaps allay criticisms that the disciplinary process is too ”in house”. Various doctors have commented that it is counterproductive to be judged only by one’s colleagues.
Other changes involve setting clear deadlines on cases (some of which can drag on for years) and appointing an ombudsman to interact between the public and the council.
In an attempt to become more accountable the council will also publish information on the complaints it receives, and how rapidly they are dealt with, said Padayachee.
It will also publish the names of offenders and their sentences.
Padayachee, who has management qualifications from Harvard University as well as years of experience on the council, was confident that large-scale restructuring will produce a better organisation.
”Give us until the end of the year. These are quite radical changes but I think it is long overdue,” he said. ”The public wants this type of action to be taken.”
The HPC is a statutory body designed to protect the public by maintaining excellent standards of ethical and professional practice. It is funded by the health professionals themselves and receives no subsidies from the government. — Sapa