Three fraudulent health practitioners arrested
During a second operation conducted with members of the Ekurhuleni East Crime Intelligence Unit and EMPD’s Community Liaison Unit, two men were found selling fraudulent medical certificates.
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in conjunction with members of the Ekurhuleni East Crime Intelligence Unit and the EPMD conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of three fraudulent health practitioners in Germiston.
The arrests were made after the HPCSA joined forces with Ekurhuleni law-enforcement agencies to conduct operations in the Germiston area.
The HPCSA’s head of corporate affairs, Christopher Tsatsawane, said an operation was conducted at a Germiston-based medical practice where the doctor is actively registered as a medical practitioner with the HPCSA.
Tsatsawane said during the operation, the investigating team established that a student clinical associate was practising as a medical practitioner while not being registered as such with the HPCSA.
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He said the clinical associate was operating under the name and practice details of another doctor and practising without any supervision.
Tsatsawane said the student clinical associate indicated to law enforcement that he had practised as a medical practitioner at the practice since February 2019 in the doctor’s absence.
Tsatsawane said this was acknowledged by the doctor of the practice.
The doctor and the student clinical associate were arrested by the Germiston SAPS.
Tsatsawane said the student clinical associate was charged with contravening Section 17(1)(a) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974, which is a criminal offence in terms of Section 17(5), by practising as a medical practitioner while not being registered as such with the HPCSA, as well as fraud for practising under the name and practice details of another doctor.
He said the doctor of the practice, where the operation was conducted, was also charged with fraud as he allowed the student clinical associate to practise under his name and practice details.
During a second operation conducted with members of the Ekurhuleni East Crime Intelligence Unit and EMPD’s Community Liaison Unit, two men were found selling fraudulent medical certificates.
Tsatsawane said the pair were found selling the fraudulent medical certificates on the sidewalk under the names of Dr Fortune Vision M Letuku and Dr AH Rahman in exchange for cash.
The duo was arrested and taken into custody at the Germiston SAPS.
Tsatsawane said both were charged with fraud and contravening Section 39(1)(a) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974.
He highlighted that the HPCSA is mandated to protect the public and guide the professions through enforcement and compliance from the healthcare practitioners in line with the provisions of the Health Professions Act.
To safeguard the public and guide the professions, registration in terms of the Act is a prerequisite for practising any of the health professions registrable with the council.
Tsatsawane said HPCSA is working tirelessly with law-enforcement agencies to expose fraudulent practitioners who are illegally practising and putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk.
He highlighted that safeguarding the health profession is a collective responsibility that will ensure the public’s safety and that medical care is provided by registered persons.
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