Question NW1621 to the Minister of Health
02 July 2018 - NW1621
Kopane, Ms SP to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) What is the total number of doctors who are currently registered with the Health Professions Council of SA, (b) of the specified total number of doctors, what number of doctors are (i) practising in (i) each province and (ii) outside the borders of the country and (c) what is the name of each country that the doctors are practising in; (2) whether any of the specified doctors are facing (a) disciplinary hearings and/or (b) criminal charges; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(1) (a) There are 50 538 doctors (Medical and dental) on the HPCSA register.
(b) (i) The following table reflects the details in this regard.
|
Province |
No. of Doctors in Province |
|
Eastern Cape |
3494 |
|
Free State |
2102 |
|
Gauteng |
18062 |
|
KwaZulu Natal |
8747 |
|
Limpopo |
1976 |
|
Mpumalanga |
2001 |
|
North West |
1614 |
|
Northern Cape |
775 |
|
Western Cape |
11765 |
|
TOTAL |
50538 |
(ii) The HPCSA does not keep a register/record of practitioners leaving the country to practice elsewhere.
(2) (a) Total number of doctors facing disciplinary hearing are as follows:
- Preliminary- 1523
- Professional Conduct – 418
PRELIMINARY
|
TYPE OF OFFENCE |
MEDICAL AND DENTAL |
|
Unethical Advertising |
2 |
|
Incompetence |
607 |
|
Over servicing |
13 |
|
Breach of confidentiality |
20 |
|
Damaging Professional Reputation of Colleague |
12 |
|
Insufficient Care/Treatment & Mismanagement of Patients |
263 |
|
Negligence |
2 |
|
Unacceptable/Inappropriate Relationship with Patients |
25 |
|
Refusing to treat patients |
53 |
|
Misdiagnosis |
0 |
|
Practicing Outside Scope of competence |
0 |
|
Fraudulent Certificates/Incorrect Information on Death Certificates |
95 |
|
Refusing to complete forms / producing inaccurate reports |
74 |
|
Overcharging / charging for Services not Rendered |
56 |
|
Issues relating to Consent |
23 |
|
Fraud and theft |
77 |
|
Bringing the Professions into disrepute |
25 |
|
Employing unregistered practitioners |
0 |
|
Unethical dispensing, using of unregistered medicine and prescribing of drugs |
5 |
|
Contempt of Council |
0 |
|
Supersession / Contravening the Hazardous Substances Act, 1973 |
37 |
|
Incorrect Accounts |
49 |
|
Bad Communication |
27 |
|
Touting |
5 |
|
Expose patients to danger |
40 |
|
Section 51 |
2 |
|
Practicing without registration |
11 |
|
TOTAL |
1523 |
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT CASES FOR PROSECUTION
|
TYPE OF OFFENCE |
MEDICAL AND DENTAL |
|
Unethical Advertising |
4 |
|
Incompetence |
51 |
|
Breach of confidentiality |
1 |
|
Insufficient Care/Treatment & Mismanagement of Patients |
58 |
|
Negligence |
98 |
|
Unacceptable/Inappropriate Relationship with Patients |
18 |
|
Refusing to treat patients |
4 |
|
Misdiagnosis |
4 |
|
Practicing Outside Scope of competence |
14 |
|
Fraudulent Certificates/Incorrect Information on Death Certificates |
16 |
|
Refusing to complete forms / producing inaccurate reports |
6 |
|
Overcharging / charging for Services not Rendered |
40 |
|
Issues relating to Consent |
14 |
|
Fraud and theft |
52 |
|
Bringing the Professions into disrepute |
7 |
|
Employing unregistered practitioners |
6 |
|
Unethical dispensing, using of unregistered medicine and prescribing of drugs |
2 |
|
Contempt of Council |
15 |
|
Practicing without registration |
8 |
|
TOTAL |
418 |
(b) This is a matter for South African Police Services
END.