Over 8 000 health practitioners have been struck off the roll after failing to pay their annual fees, the Health Professionals’ Council of South Africa (HPSCA) said on Thursday.
”A total of 8 593 health professionals have been struck off the roll after failing to meet the deadline,” said HPCSA spokesperson Tendai Dhliwayo.
Health practitioners erased from the role include doctors, paramedics, dentists, psychologists and ambulance assistants.
”It’s always a concern in light of the shortage of health professionals, that is why we give professionals such a long grace period,” said Dhliwayo.
Gauteng is the province with the most offenders, with 2 486 practitioners axed. KwaZulu-Natal had 1 586 practitioners erased, followed by the Western Cape with 1 056.
The Northern Cape and the North West had the least number erased, both below 600.
Dhliwayo said it is difficult to track down those erased from the roll who are still practising.
”It is largely up the employers to ensure that their practitioners are registered and also up the public to bring to our attention those practising when they are not supposed to be.”
Practising without being registered with the HPCSA is a criminal offence.
The deadline for health professionals to pay their annual fees was October 6. At the time 11 057 members’ fees were outstanding.
The national Department of Health will have to establish how many of the practitioners struck off were from the public health sector before it can comment on the impact on service delivery, said deputy director general and head of human resources Dr Percy Mahlati.
”It is the law that everybody should pay the fees. This law has been in place for many years and every doctor knows that. People must respect the laws of the country,” said Mahlati.
Practitioners will be penalised with an additional fee in order to be restored to the roll, said Dhliwayo.
Those who applied for restoration within six months after being erased would have to pay twice the fee for the current year, as well as the outstanding fee.
”After a period of six months but within 12 months of the erasure date, the amount shall be equivalent to four times the applicable annual fees as well as the outstanding fees.
”Those who pay after 12 months will pay five times the applicable annual fees as well as the outstanding amount.”
The HPCSA is a statutory body established under the Health Professions Act to regulate the professional conduct of health practitioners. — Sapa