The Professional Board for Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene of the HPCSA feels vindicated after a High Court judgment forcing dental assistants to be registered with the HPCSA. Judge Ismail ordered that the application by the South African Dental Association (SADA) to set aside the regulations relating to the registration of Dental Assistants be dismissed with costs.
“This ruling entrenches the Council’s mandate of protecting the public and guiding the professions by ensuring that practitioners who obtained the necessary knowledge, training and skills are registered with the HPCSA and as such allowed to treat the South African public,” said Vidyah Amrit, Chairperson of the Professional Board for Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene.
Judge Ismail further recommended a two-year moratorium period within which period the Council would not, in terms of the Health Professions Act, exercise its statutory duty to prosecute as an offence any person, who practises as a dental assistant without being registered as such with the HPCSA; or any dentist, dental therapist, oral hygienist and health facility who, employs an unregistered dental assistant.
Therefore, as of 7 March 2016, no person will be entitled to work as a dental assistant or be employed as a dental assistant, as registration would in accordance with the law be a prerequisite for practising as a dental assistant within the Republic of South Africa.
Any person who is not registered in terms of the Health Professions Act, with effect from 7 March 2016 and practises as a dental assistant, or any person who employs a person as a dental assistant who is not registered with the HPCSA, will be guilty of an offence and, on conviction, be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months, or to both a fine and such imprisonment, according to the ruling.
The Professional Board for Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene urges “persons currently working as dental assistants and who are not registered with the HPCSA to enrol for the formal dental assisting course at an accredited education institution. Employers of unregistered dental assistants should take due cognisance of this requirement and make every effort to comply with the law”.
The HPCSA is also reminding prospective students that it will not register any students holding a qualification from unaccredited institutions. They can contact the HPCSA to ascertain whether an institution is accredited to provide education and training on 012 338 9301 or info@hpcsa.co.za.
Last Updated on 16 July 2014 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs