Pretoria - All the files of registered foreign doctors, who have been practising in the country for the past 10 years, are to be re-audited, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) announced today.
This follows an investigation by the council into a neurosurgeon from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who has been practising in the country without acquiring and completing the required training for registration as a neurosurgeon.
During a media briefing on Thursday, HPCSA President Professor Sam Mokgokong admitted that the council had committed an oversight when it registered Dr Nyunyi Wambuyi Katumba without all the necessary certified copies of his qualifications being provided.
He explained that in terms of the requirements of the DRC, Katumba trained and registered as a General Practitioner (GP) and had an examination certification for a foreign graduate.
However, he should not have been able to practice in South Africa because he failed an entry exam -which is equivalent to the final-year medical qualification.
According to Mokgokong, a registrar within the council submitted false information about Katumba to the Executive Committee of the Medical and Dental Professions Board.
Katumba has since been deregistered to practise in the country and the registrar from the council has been fired. Two accomplices have also left the council and an internal investigation is on-going.
Three hundred and eighty-three medical practitioners foreign qualified (including specialists) were registered with the HPCSA during the past year. A large number include volunteer workers who work in South Africa for a few months.
Professor Mokgokong said the council would go back to all the files of foreign doctors, both general practitioners and specialists, and audit them.
"We've been reactive then proactive ... we have to go back to the past 10 years and all registration processes will have to be re-audited," said Professor Mokgokong, who admitted that the council has failed the nation.
HPCSA Acting Registrar and CEO, Dr Kgosi Letlape, assured members of the public that a number of verification systems have been implemented to ensure a satisfactory level of quality assurance during registration, including a double verification process.
"As we have erred in our mandate of protecting the public and guiding the professions, I would like to reassure the public that their safety is a priority for the HPCSA and we will continue to ensure dubious professionals do not bring highly esteemed professions into disrepute by acting swiftly and decisively.
"The council is also investigating possible complicity from staff and any guilty person/s will be held accountable... there is no place for fraudulent activities and collusion between staff and practitioners will be severely dealt with," warned Letlape.
Katumba worked at Steve Biko Academic Hospital where he was placed on probation, but later fired due to incompetence. He was then hired at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, where he was also fired due to incompetence.
It is alleged that he was also fired in Zimbabwe and Botswana for similar offences
