Thursday, 28 March, 2024
HomeWeekly RoundupHPCSA lists bogus medical practitioners in Cape Town

HPCSA lists bogus medical practitioners in Cape Town

A list of 10 illegally practising or unregistered medical practitioners issuing bogus medical certificates for people to get off work in the Western Cape has been released by the Health Professions Council of SA. The South African reports that the aim is to create awareness among employers, employees and the public.

Spokesperson Priscilla Sekhonyana says the HPCSA has in its possession 28 fake medical certificates reported to the Cape Town office. It was report in 2015 that fake medical certificates were being sold in Katlehong on the East Rand and last week the HPCSA released a statement saying during an inspection at the Lister Medical Centre in Johannesburg, eight people were arrested for practising illegally.

The report says the selling of fake medical certificates is also a business in Cape Town – three people were tracked down who were selling fake medical certificates. But only one would speak and only on condition of anonymity.

Operating from an informal settlement in Khayelitsha, Luyolo (not his real name) says selling medical certificates is “big business” and he has been doing it for many years. “Basically, I sell medical certificates for R150, and I have a client base. I don’t just sell to anyone. I know my people. If ever I get a new customer, they have to tell me who from my clients they got my contact number and my client has to verify this,” says Luyolo.

Luyolo says he copies real medical certificates, with real doctors’ names and addresses, but with his own cell phone number in case the employer of the buyer of the certificate phones to check. “I make my own medical certificates, copying a legitimate medical certificate from a legitimate doctor that I have visited, and have medical certificates for public and private doctors. I fill in the certificates myself. Then I stamp them, sign them. But then I place my cell number on them in case clients need me to verify,” he says.

The report says according to Sekhonyana the HPCSA has estalished an inspectorate office which conducts inspections of registered practitioners and investigates allegations of illegal practice by unregistered people.

“The HPCSA is continuously conducting public awareness campaigns to ensure that the public is educated regarding illegal or unregistered practitioners and fraudulent sick notes. The Inspectorate Office works closely with law enforcement. However, unregistered or illegal practitioners may be reported to the HPCSA through email [info@hpcsa.co.za]. Or, via telephone [012 338 9300] as well as post,” said Sekhonyana.

[link url="https://www.thesouthafrican.com/fake-medical-certificates-cape-town-hpcsa-post-names/"]The South Africa report[/link]
[link url="http://www.hpcsa.co.za/Uploads/editor/UserFiles/downloads/publications/Media_Release_Eight_healthcare_practitioners_arrested.pdf"]HPCSA list[/link]

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