Update after recent communication from the HPCSA regarding the revised annual fee payable to Council.

Dear SAMA Member

You would have noted the recent communication from the Health Professions Council of South Africa regarding the revised annual fee payable to Council.

Revised Annual Fee

Immediately after the utterly absurd initial published fee, SAMA intervened by engaging with the Minister of Health and sending a legal letter of demand to the Council.

The fee increase was subsequently revised down from the initial 13% to one equivalent to CPI (i.e., 5.7%).

We still believe this doesn’t go nearly far enough to address the underlying issue – a dysfunctional Council.

Double Deductions

Alarmingly, members have brought it to SAMAs attention that the HPCSA have double deducted fees from doctors in the public sector. These deductions are made via PERSAL directly from the salaries of state employees in terms of a bargaining council agreement.

Some members have also indicated that incorrect amounts have been deducted and that some have been fined due to this latest administrative failure of Council.

SAMA has called for an urgent meeting with the Registrar and the Minister of Health to address this issue. Updates will be provided immediately after the meeting. Members are urged to check their accounts and inform SAMA if they have been affected.

HPCSA – Dysfunctional

SAMA and its members are no longer going to tolerate the poor service and dysfunctionality of Council. Doctors should not be expected to subsidise the operational bloat and mismanagement of an organisation that consistently keeps failing to fulfil its mandate and provide basic services.

Instead of making the required organisational changes, cutting costs, and addressing the structural deficiencies Council, an entitlement to perpetual annual fee increases is seemingly preferred.

SAMA has renewed calls for the unbundling of Council and the establishment of a separate independent Medical and Dental Council. SAMA will take the lead, together with the South African Dental Association (SADA), in advocating for reform. A meeting is being arranged with the Minister to action the recommendations of the Mayosi-report and the Presidential Health Compact."

The South African Medical Association - Postal Address-The South African Medical Association P O Box 74789,Lynnwood Ridge Pretoria 0040, South Africa Physical address The South African Medical Association, Block F Castle Walk Corporate Park Nossob Street Erasmuskloof Ext3 Pretoria 0181,
South Africa www.samedical.org

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