Health professionals fearing intimidation by some medical aid schemes have been granted permission to give evidence in camera at the inquiry set up to investigate the racial profiling of black doctors by the schemes. According to an IoL report, an organisation which can’t be named to protect its identity, requested to give evidence in camera at the Council of Medical Schemes hearing chaired by advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, because it feared being harassed.
The organisation submitted its request saying when it made its intention to give evidence, it started getting harassed by the medical schemes which has put its facilities in “danger”. After hearing this submission, Ngcukaitobi ruled that the evidence should be given in camera.
The report says Ngcukaitobi, however, warned that this should not set a precedent where all health care professionals can request to give evidence in camera as this was a serious national issue which needs to be conducted in public.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/inquiry-hears-medical-aid-schemes-intimidate-doctors-31627317"]IoL report[/link]