Disbar doctors who have fleeced medical aids
THE doctors’ medical aid fraud saga refers.
What hogwash is this that various doctors who have fleeced medical aid funds of substantial amounts, some over protracted periods, by making fraudulent claims can get away with fines of R20 000? This is “small change “for the doctors whose devious and calculated wrongful acts have not only betrayed the trust of society in general but has had adverse consequences on the medical aid schemes and their hard pressed members.
This punitive action by the inept Health Professional Councils of SA (HPCSA) is a slap on the wrist and an affront to justice, integrity and good governance.
The punishment must befit the crime as this will never serve as a deterrent but encourage other transgressors to “milk” the system as the fine is a pittance many doctors can easily afford.
A more deserving and just sentence would be full repayment with interest, much stiffer fines, suspension from practising for a given period and being disbarred from practising.
If an offending doctor was struck off the roll, I doubt such malpractices would continue, this being a sure enough deterrent.
The spineless HPCSA needs to catch a big wake-up quickly as in the prevailing circumstances its credibility is highly questionable. Regrettably, it is just a toothless bulldog in effect with all bark and little or no bite.
Shame on you. Your proclaimed mission and vision of protecting the public and setting and maintaining excellent standards of ethical and professional practice certainly are empty words, like those of many politicians. The aforementioned pathetic actions, primarily inappropriate and ridiculously lenient sanctions, do not match the noble proclamations.