INVESTIGATORS working for the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) have launched a probe into fraudulent sick notes being issued from a Mandeni doctor’s practice.
The Zululand Observer first brought the issue to light in November last year, when reporters were given information by private investigators that they had purchased a sick note for three days for R300.
The investigator confirmed he had seen at least 200 notes from the same practice on file at one company in iSithebe, an industrial area near Mandeni that employ thousands.
The ZO met with HPCSA investigator Mischal Julius on Friday and shared with her key information that will enable her to fully investigate the matter.
But lucrative illegal activities such as the sale of sick notes or even doctors running practices while not being registered or treating patients while suspended from the HPCSA register is rife.
‘A large number of activities that are in contravention of the Health Professions Act take place every day,’ Julius said.
‘The HPCSA last year established offices in every province and appointed full time investigators who deal with complaints from the public and even from those within the medical profession who raise concerns.’
Julius, who is based in Durban, investigates possible infractions of the Act in the province.
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She says that awareness surrounding the possible penalties for doctors and other medical professionals who break the rules needed to be stepped up.
‘Many people are not aware that they can forward a complaint to us to investigate, and we can even charge doctors criminally if we find they are breaking the law.’
The HPCSA can impose hefty fines and even up to five years prison time on those found to be contravening the Health Professions Act.
By law, all medical professionals must register with the HPCSA to be able to practice their branch of medicine legally.
‘We want the public and those in the profession to be aware that we will be cracking down on illegal activities,’ Julius said.
‘It is crucial for the public to keep us informed.’
If you have a complaint you wish to forward to the HPCSA, Mischal Julius can be contacted via 031 830 5293/94 or via email at MischalineJ@hpcsa.co.za
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