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The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has launched a nationwide crackdown on fake doctors operating across our country.

The investigations and arrests have been gaining momentum, with two imposter healthcare practitioners in parts of South Africa being confronted for their illegal activity.

HPCSA spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane confirmed that the inspectorate office, in a joint operation with members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), conducted an inspection in Kuruman, Northern Cape, and found an unregistered medic operating at one of the local hospitals.

Mr Tshifata Katembwe, a Congolese national, was found practising at a medical practice registered to one Dr TK Gopane since January 2022 and was not registered with the Council.

“Mr Katembwe was arrested for practising illegally and as a result he was in contravention of Section 17(1) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974, and detained at the Kuruman SAPS.”

While Katembwe is set to face the music in court, his counterpart, Dr Gopane – although registered with the HPCSA Council as a medical practitioner – will be reported to the Medical and Dental Professions Board for appointing an unregistered person, “thereby putting the health of unsuspecting members of the public at risk”.

The HPCSA also found another bogus doctor impersonating a registered practitioner and using her registration credentials to practise illegally.

“In April 2023, Dr Lesne Pucjlowski alerted the HPCSA that an unknown person used her details, including her name, identity number and registration number to secure a job in Cape Town.

“Upon discovering the fraud, the recruitment agency that facilitated the employment dismissed him (the bogus medical practitioner) and notified Dr Pucjlowski of the fraud,” Tsatsawane said.

The suspect was finally arrested by detectives from the Douglasdale police station after he was lured to an interview for another job placement where he applied using Dr Pucjlowski’s information.

“Under interrogation, Mr Simba Koromani, a Zimbabwean citizen who had no valid passport, conceded that he was an impostor.

“A CV and a fake identity document, with his picture, but bearing Dr Pucjlowski’s details were found in his possession,” said Tsatsawane.

Koromani was also arrested for fraud and contravention of Section 17 and Section 40 of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974.

As a statutory body established under the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974, the HPCSA is mandated to protect the public and guide medical professions through enforcement and compliance from the practitioners in line with the provisions of the Health Professions Act.

In order to safeguard the public and guide the professionals by ensuring they are in compliance with health-care standards, registration in terms of the Act is a prerequisite for practising any of the health professions registrable with the HPCSA.

Members of the public can verify a practitioner’s status by calling the HPCSA call centre on 012 338 9300/1.

Registered practitioners are encouraged to keep a close eye on their documentation and personal information.

[source:iol]