The Inspectorate Office is central to ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974, its rules and regulations governing the health practitioners.
This office conducts proactive and risk-based inspections, assists the Professional Boards with clinical and professional compliance matters, and monitors adherence to penalties imposed by the Professional Conduct Committee. A significant focus of this office is the identification and prosecution of unregistered persons masquerading as healthcare professionals. In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, regulatory partners and the public, the Inspectorate exposes and acts against bogus practitioners who pose risks to public health. Strategies employed include proactive inspections, reactive investigations, and the preparation of court dockets for prosecution.
The office conducted 3 528 compliance inspections in the 2024/25 financial year, reflecting an increase from the previous financial year. In relation to illegal practice, 589 investigations of unregistered persons were concluded. The Inspectorate continues to enforce professional compliance through various means. In the 2024/25 financial year the Inspectorate also participated in 28 joint inspections with other law enforcement agencies, participated in 58 stakeholder engagements, and conducted 25 awareness campaigns to strengthen public education and inter-agency collaboration.
While progress has been made, challenges remain. The widespread presence of unregistered individuals makes detection and tracing difficult, and in some instances registered practitioners have unlawfully engaged unregistered persons as locums. Practitioners who are employing persons unregistered with Council are contravening Section 17(1) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974 and when found will be reported to their respective Professional Boards for unethical conduct of employing unregistered persons to practise as locums. Registered practitioners are reminded of their obligation to employ only appropriately qualified and registered individuals to uphold the ethical and professional standards of the healthcare sector.
The Inspectorate Office remains committed to identifying and acting against those who violate the Health Professions Act. Penalties for unethical behaviour under the HPCSA include reprimands, fines (which can be compounded for multiple charges), suspension of practice, and removal from the professional register. The severity of the penalty depends on the nature of the misconduct, with fines ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of Rand for specific offences like negligence, incompetence, or fraud.
To address this, the Inspectorate continues to emphasise awareness and education campaigns for practitioners, supported by strengthened collaboration with stakeholders.
Last Updated on 2 September 2025 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs