The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) congratulates its President Dr Tebogo Kgosietsile Solomon Letlape on his election as the 10th President of the Association of the Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA). Dr Letlape will serve a term of three years until 2021.
AMCOA’s primary purpose is to support medical regulatory authorities in the continent of Africa in their quest to protect the public by promoting high standards of medical education, registration and regulation. AMCOA also seeks to facilitate the ongoing exchange of information amongst medical regulatory authorities.
Dr Letlape is the current President of the HPCSA Council and Chairperson of the Medical and Dental Professions Board (MDB). He made history by becoming the first African to qualify as an ophthalmologist in South Africa during the apartheid years. He was also the first African to be elected President of the World Medical Association (WMA) in 2006.
Dr Letlape is a former Chairman of the South African Medical Association (SAMA). Urged by the late former President Nelson Mandela, Dr Letlape embarked on an ambitious project towards providing access to antiretroviral treatment to HIV positive patients in 2003. Together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the South African Medical Association (SAMA), he established Tshepang Trust, which he is a former Executive Director of , and facilitated the treatment of HIV positive patients when none was provided by the government of the time.
His interest in healthcare for South Africans sees him participating in various health committees and task teams and serves as a member of The Global Hygiene Council.
In congratulating Dr Letlape, the Vice President of the HPCSA and Chairperson of the Emergency Care Board, Mr Lesiba Malotana said; “On behalf of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, we were excited to learn about your election to this Office. As a South African and a healthcare practitioner, I have for years been inspired by Dr Letlape’s work in the healthcare fraternity, both inside the country and beyond. As a country and the regulator, we were confident that he would win the elections as it happened. Dr Letlape certainly deserves this role, because we know how much effort he has put through during his term as President of HPCSA; in ensuring that the vision and strategy of AMCOA is achieved. As a country, we look forward to his work and are confident that he will execute all responsibilities well as directed by AMCOA. Once again, we congratulate Dr Letlape and wish him the best for his tenure and work ahead.
The Outgoing President of AMCOA, Prof. George Magoha said; “As I pass on the baton, I am very delighted that you have won the elections for the President of the Association of the Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA). Your commitment and dedication to this association has enabled your victory with a large majority. We trust that your guidance and leadership will benefit the continent as a whole; new and young minds will emerge from this important engagement platform. I therefore take this opportunity to congratulate you and hope you easily fulfill all your promises for the sustainability of AMCOA. I wish you all the best for your noble future endeavors.”
Last Updated on 15 August 2018 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs