In 2015, the late Professor Bongani Mayosi led a ministerial task team that investigated allegations of administrative irregularities and poor governance at the HPCSA. In the report that followed, the task team noted that “the HPCSA is in a state of multi-system organisational dysfunction which is resulting in the failure of the organisation to deliver effectively and efficiently on its primary objects and functions in terms of the Health Professions Act”.
Sama says the continued lack of proper administration is an indictment on the HPCSA and its inability to institute the recommendations made by Mayosi and his team. It says the HPCSA remains an inefficient and ineffective organisation.
“It is outrageous that the same problems identified four years ago remain unresolved today. Poor communication to members of the public and practitioners, unfair processes in professional conduct inquiries, and undue and unnecessary delays in processing applications continue. It really is a sad state of affairs,” says Dr Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of Sama.
She says among the raft of recommendations four years ago, was a full organisational review and a proposal for new governance and administrative structures.
“These recommendations need to be revisited and implemented wholly. The proper functioning of the HPCSA is vital to practitioners and the public and we cannot allow such an important body to fall further into decline when practical and effective measures for its turnaround have already been identified. We endorse a separate Medical and Dental Council as per the recommendations in the Mayosi report.” says Coetzee.
