The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has a responsibility to ensure that it protects the public and guides the professions. Council takes this responsibility seriously to ensure optimal healthcare for all people through the provision of safe healthcare and practitioners that have been educated to the highest professional standards.
The HPCSA’s mandate is maintained by ensuring that institutions providing education and training are accredited to safeguard the health standards of the country. The present unstable environment at tertiary education institutions may have an impact on the quality of future healthcare practitioners and on the accreditation status of training institutions, as the accreditation is based on a number of criteria including academic exposure, assessments, infrastructure, safety and equipment of such institutions.
Council is concerned about the state of unrest that is currently taking place at tertiary education institutions which is impacting severely on the training of future healthcare professionals. It is incumbent upon Council to uphold the status, standards and continued development in the healthcare industry, which in turn bestows public trust and ensures continued support for registered practitioners.
Currently, South Africa has limited resources in terms of healthcare professionals practising in the country. The continuation of such unstable academic environments will affect the registration of final year students due to complete their studies and who have to register with Council for the purpose of practising their professions from January 1, 2017.
The President, Dr Letlape, and the Council of the HPCSA appeal to all stakeholders to act with the utmost restraint to try and resolve issues within the confines and resources available as soon as possible. Allowing health professions students to complete their studies in 2016, will ensure continued public healthcare services to communities and those most at risk.
Last Updated on 18 October 2016 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs