Friday, 29 March, 2024
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HPCSA arrests another unregistered doctor, warns public to check practitioners

A Congolese national doctor has been arrested in the Eastern Cape for allegedly practising without proper documentation, leading to a Health Professional Council warning that the public should check the registration of their practitioner.

A report on the IoL site notes that according to Daphney Chuma from the HPCSA, the doctor had not been registered with them. Ilunga Mwenze had been employed by a registered practitioner named Dr CE Onwughara based in Bon-Accord Street, Adelaide. Mwenze was detained at Adelaide SAPS and was denied bail. He will remain in police custody for the next seven days.

"Members of the public are advised to consult healthcare professionals whose credibility is known in their areas. In case of new practitioners, the public is advised to check their status with the HPCSA before embarking on consultations to ascertain the healthcare professional’s authenticity," said Chuma.

In December another Congolese national, Musasa Ngoie, employed as a locum at the Airport Medical Centre by a doctor in Isipingo, Dr Rakesh B Persadh, was arrested on charges of contravening the Health Professions Act.

And a medical doctor is expected to appear before the HPCSA Inspectorate Office for allegedly contravening the Medical Act. News24 reports that Dr Ninadu Mafulu was arrested after the HPCSA and Special Law Enforcement Unit of the Gauteng traffic police conducted an operation at his medical practice.

Mafulu, whose medical practice is situated in Hillbrow, is registered as a medical practitioner with the HPCSA but is only registered in the public service category. The head of corporate affairs at the HPCSA, Daphney Chuma, said Mafulu's case would be handed to its internal complaints handling unit to proceed with disciplinary action for allegedly practising as an independent medical practitioner while being registered in the public service category.

Mafulu was also found to be dispensing scheduled medication at his practice while not having the necessary licence to dispense in terms of Section 22C[l][a] of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, [Act 101 of 1965] [as amended], which constitutes a criminal offence.

[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/thepost/community-news/alleged-bogus-doctor-arrested-in-the-eastern-cape-denied-bail-41164181"]Full report on the IoL site[/link]

[link url="https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/joburg-doctor-who-allegedly-illegally-prescribed-medication-for-patients-arrested-20200123"]Full News24 report[/link]

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