NOT feeling like going to work today? Didn’t study for an exam? Or do you need a good reason not to attend a disciplinary enquiry?
One doctor’s practice in Mandeni has got you covered – for a moderate fee.
For R100 a day, you can obtain a sick note that declares you were examined by the doctor and found medically unfit for work.
An undercover operation yielded results last week when an informant entered the practice in Sundumbili near Mandeni and paid R300 for a sick note for a ‘severe headache’ without being examined.
The doctor operates at least one other practice in Stanger.
The investigation was launched after factory staff in nearby iSithebe noticed a trend with employees producing sick notes from the same practice.
One of the private investigators, who requested to remain anonymous, said one company has shown him hundreds of notes from the practice submitted to the employer in the past year.
‘All of these notes are now in question. Fraud of this nature is costing companies hundreds of thousands every year as they continue to pay salaries for staff that are not at work,’ he said.
The investigator confirmed he had seen at least 200 notes from the practice at just one company.
‘If one operated under the assumption that these notes were all for an average of three days, at a cost of R300 per note, someone has made up to R60 000,’ he explained.
There are more than 200 factories in iSithebe and Sundumbili.
Closer inspection of a note on file from the company, which seems legitimate, and the ‘fraudulent’ note obtained by the informant, reveals some key differences, leading investigators to believe the doctor may not be aware of the fraud emanating from the practice.
Two key differences include the stamp – the ‘legitimate’ note’s stamp contains the practice number and Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPSCA) registration number of the doctor, while the ‘fraudulent’ note was stamped only with an address.
The other major indicator is the difference in signatures as can be seen in the photographs.
The private investigator confirmed that a complaint was being submitted to HPCSA.
According to Occupational Care South Africa (OCSA), the South African economy loses between R12- and R16-billion through illness-related absences from work and more than 40% of sick notes are handed out without a diagnosis.
The doctor, who the ZO confirmed is an HPCSA registered general practitioner, on Tuesday denied any knowledge of the sale of sick notes at the Sundumbili practice, but refused to comment or answer further questions.
In November last year the Pietermaritzburg High court gave an Empangeni woman a R1 000 fine after she was found guilty of fraud for tampering with a sick note.
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