Experts investigate health council

A team of medical, law, information technology and administration experts are investigating several allegations against the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA), Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said yesterday.

“I have received a lot of complaints about governance, efficiency, effectiveness and sometimes even the competency of the management of the HPCSA,” Motsoaledi told reporters in Pretoria.

“The council itself did attempt to put up a committee to resolve the matter, but the weight of the issues is such that I believe an outside independent process will be more appropriate.”

The team would investigate procurement procedures fol- lowed when the HPCSA acquired the Oracle information system, used to register health professionals.

The health department had reportedly decided against using the system.

The team would investigate allegations of maladministration by HPCSA staff who have since resigned.

“There are 30 submissions by staff that were delivered to the office of the president of the Health Professions Council of SA,” said Motsoaledi.

The fitness of the chief executive officer – who also operates in the capacity of registrar – to run the organisation would be examined, as would the competency of the chief operations officer.

“The team is also mandated to investigate and make findings with regards to whether or not the state of affairs has affected the effectiveness and efficiency of the HPCSA,” he said.

“In terms of policy, they have 60 days to finalise the investigation process and provide findings and recommendations to me for further action.” – Sapa