Illegal medical practitioners and bogus doctors are increasingly becoming a concern in South Africa, with many patients becoming vulnerable to cheap medical services because they cannot afford private healthcare.
A recent case has renewed these concerns. A medical facility in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, saw a 50-year-old Pakistani national detained at Midrand SAPS for contravening Section 17 of the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit received information regarding the woman, who was allegedly impersonating a registered medical practitioner at a clinic on South Road in Midrand.
Officers arrived at the clinic and found her actively consulting with two patients. She was asked to produce relevant documents authorising her to practise medicine, including a valid practice number, but she failed to provide any.
According to JMPD, Dr Ahmed Kaka, a registered practitioner under whose employment she was working, has been reported to the Professional Board for Medical and Dental Professions Board for employing an unregistered person to perform clinical duties.
“Upon further questioning, the suspect admitted that she had not completed her medical practitioner studies and did not possess the required qualifications or certificates. She further stated that she had been practising as a medical practitioner for more than ten (10) years without valid documentation.”
“The officers seized six patients’ files, including stationery such as sick notes, prescriptions, and completed eye screening certificates. PRDP certificates and documents with different medical doctors’ names that were found in her consulting room. The suspect was arrested for fraud and contravention of the Health Professions Act,“ revealed JMPD.
Foster Mohale of the Department of Health told the Saturday Star that unregistered doctors and other health professionals pose a serious threat to public safety.
Mohale said many patients become vulnerable to bogus medical services because they cannot afford private healthcare.
“The conduct of illegally practising health professionals, including medical doctors, has the potential to put the health of the public at risk. We believe this is partly driven by the fact that many patients cannot afford expensive private healthcare and become vulnerable and easy targets for bogus doctors’ services at unbelievably cheap rates.”
“We believe the implementation of the NHI will contribute to the elimination of this malpractice because the vulnerable members of the public will not worry about paying for healthcare, private or public, and only qualified and registered healthcare providers will work.”
Eric Mphaphuli, Head of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Inspectorate Office, raised concerns about the incident, warning that anyone found engaging in illegal medical practice would be arrested and held accountable.
“Operating as a healthcare professional without proper qualifications and registration is not only unethical and unprofessional but also illegal. Those found engaging in such activities will be arrested and held accountable.”
“Illegal health practice remains an ongoing concern for the HPCSA and the broader health sector. To address this risk, the HPCSA continues to strengthen collaboration with law-enforcement agencies, enhance inspection and investigation capacity, intensify public awareness campaigns, and encourage the public to verify practitioner registration status.”
“It concerns the HPCSA that sometimes, the illegitimate practitioners do so with assistance from registered practitioners. Such involvement would ordinarily trigger investigations of the said practitioners by the HPCSA, and once confirmed, they would face applicable sanctions.”
Dr. Cedric Sihlangu, General Secretary of the South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU), highlighted the dangers posed by unregistered medical practitioners. Sihlangu explained that patients are often at risk of receiving incorrect prescriptions or unregistered medications, which can have serious health consequences.
“This issue poses a significant risk mostly to the safety of the patients, as they end up receiving prescriptions of medicine that is not relevant to their illnesses. Some of these doctors even dispense unregistered medications. Generally, this issue affects the credibility of the medical fraternity. It undermines the skills and technicalities that one acquires through rigorous training in medical school for a period of six years and more.”
“The Health Professions Council of South Africa needs to make it easy for patients to check if an individual is a qualified medical doctor before they can even consult with them. Increased policing and inspection of all medical practices is also required. There need to be campaigns aimed at educating the public about the dangers of consulting or taking medical advice from someone whose qualifications you, as the patient, have not confirmed the validity of. Considering the risks posed by bogus doctors to patients, there should be much stricter consequences for those presenting themselves to be medical doctors when they are not,” said Sihlangu.
The Professional Board for Environmental Health Practitioners (PBEHP) revealed yet another concern, urging vigilance against unregistered and unqualified Environmental Health Practitioners.
“This conduct is illegal and puts the health and safety of the public at serious risk. Environmental health practitioners play a critical role in safeguarding public health, including monitoring waste management, water services, food safety, pollution control, and pest management. Anyone practising without registration undermines this vital work.”
Concerns continue to mount in the health sector over private practices and midwife-run clinics that fail to meet required safety standards. Professor Ismail Bhorat, President of the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG), emphasized the need for stricter compliance to protect patients.
“SASOG is deeply concerned about reports of midwives practising without formal obstetric backup arrangements. Some practitioners reportedly operate with no medical or specialist obstetrician support, and when emergencies arise, simply transport patients to the nearest hospital emergency department. This practice is wholly inadequate and places patients at unacceptable risk.”
“There should be an integrated approach to this question, since obstetrics is the upstream referral to the complications of midwifery-led clinics, SASOG, in conjunction with SANC, HPCSA, the Dept of Health and other roleplayers, should work together to develop a common approach with the singular aim of ensuring safe maternity care. The more compartmentalised the different entities are, the greater is the possibility that deviant practices go unnoticed, with the risk of complications and tragedy,” said Bhorat.
Authorities continue to urge patients to verify practitioners’ credentials and report any suspicious or unregistered healthcare providers to protect themselves and the public.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star