The annual fees due to the Health Professions Council of SA, as well as fees regarding registration, examinations and restoration to the register, have been published in the Government Gazette, with increases ranging from between 11.5% and 13% for medical practitioners and dentists, reports MedicalBrief.
Increases for allied professionals have been kept below inflation, currently running at 5.7%, for allied professionals. For example, dental therapists and oral hygienists fees have increased by 5.6%, dieticians by 4% and paramedics by 4.5%.
The HPCSA and SA Medical Association failed to respond to MedicalBrief requests for comment.
There was considerable practitioner dissatisfaction when last year the HPCSA gazetted a 15% annual fee increase for doctors and dentists amid an outcry over an “insensitive” decision for practitioners already straining under the fight against COVID-19. Initially, said the HPCSA, it had contemplated an increase of 28%, but "after an extensive budget review", settled on a 15% increase.
As reported by MedicalBrief, last year, the 15% 2021/22 increase meant that annual registration fees had risen by almost 40% in two years.
SEPA adjustments
This week the government also released its Annual Single Exit Price Adjustments (SEPA), as per the Medicines and Scheduled Substances for the year 2022
Payment of the prescribed fees: Health Professions Act 56 of 1974
Health Professions Council of South Africa:
• Rules relating to fees payable to the Council published and BN 17 in GG 44301 of 19 March 2021 repealed with effect from 1 April 2022 (BN 197 in GG 45859 of 4 February 2022) (p118)
• Fees payable to the Council published and BN 16 in GG 44300 of 19 March 2021 repealed with effect from 1 April 2022 (BN 198 in GG 45859 of 4 February 2022) (p135)
Annual Single Exit Price Adjustments (SEPA) of Medicines and Scheduled Substances for the year 2022 published (GN 1722 in GG 45859 of 4 February 2022) (p79) Government Gazette
GOV GAZETTE NOTICE
GOV GAZETTE 2
govt gazette annual single exit price