The Professional Board for Dietetics and Nutrition (DNB) under the ambit of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) convened a meeting with Life Healthcare (LHC) on 13 August 2025 following concerns raised by practitioners regarding internal processes relating to dietitians’ prescribing practices.
The meeting was attended by stakeholders, Life Healthcare including HPCSA, professional associations and the National Department of Health. Discussions focused on ensuring alignment between internal hospital policies and the legislative framework governing the profession of dietetics. The Board emphasised that dietitians are trained and registered as independent practitioners and that their scope of practice is determined in terms of regulations under the Health Professions Act.
The HPCSA highlighted the following:
- The mandate to regulate the profession of dietetics, including scope of practice, rests solely with the Professional Board.
- Dietitians are trained, qualified, and registered as independent practitioners, authorised to prescribe non-scheduled nutritional products in line with the regulations.
- No internal governance framework or policy of any organisation may override legislation or the scope of practice determined by the regulator.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration must respect the competence and autonomy of all professions without one dominating the other.
Life Healthcare expressed its commitment to supporting regulatory frameworks and confirmed that it would review its internal clinical governance procedures to ensure alignment.
The HPCSA welcomes the constructive engagement with Life Health Care and values the continued collaboration between regulators, healthcare institutions, and practitioners to ensure that patient care remains at the centre of professional practice.
Last Updated on 1 September 2025 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs