Fitness to Practice
Management of Impaired Practitioners and Students
The mandate of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in protecting the public and guiding the professions includes ensuring that healthcare practitioners are fit to practice their profession. As such, the health committee of the boards is established in terms of Section 15(5) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974 (The Act) to regulate and/or advise healthcare practitioners who may be impaired. Impairment means a mental or physical condition or the abuse of or dependence on chemical substances, which affects the competence, attitude, judgment, or performance of a person registered in terms of the Act.
Functions
Establish policies and procedures and to enlist cooperation and support for the prevention or alleviation of circumstances which may lead to impairment in students and practitioners.- Establish mechanisms and procedures for the early identification of impairment in students and practitioners.
- Implement procedures for handling crisis situations which may threaten patient safety and care.
- Undertake informal assessments of reports on alleged impaired students and practitioners, to make findings with regard to impairment and , if required, to impose conditions of registration or practice on such persons aimed at protection of patients and treatment of impaired persons.
- Appoint investigation committees on an Ad Hoc basis to undertake formal investigations into reports on alleged impairment in the absence of voluntary cooperation of students or practitioners, to make findings with regard to impairment and, if required, to impose conditions of registration or practice aimed at protection of patients and treatment of impaired students or practitioners.
- Consider applications by students or practitioners who were found to be impaired to have their conditions of registration or practice amended or to have such conditions revoked.
- Oversee the implementation of treatment programmes of impaired students or practitioners and to review the position of each such student or practitioner at least every 3 years.
Regulations
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Regulations Relating to Impairment of Students and Practitioners
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Guidelines
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Guidelines for rehabilitation for declared impaired practitioners and students
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| Processes of the Health Committee | |
| Reporting Template for the supervisors and Intern Curators | |
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Template for reports by the health practitioners treating an impaired students and practitioners
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Frequently Asked Questions
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View document |
To report allegations, enquire or submit information relating to health impairment of registered health practitioner and students use email: BasaniM@hpcsa.co.za
| Reporting form | Download form |