Management of Impairment for the Health Practitioners and Students

The mandate of the HPCSA in protecting the public and guiding the professions includes ensuring that health practitioners are fit to practice their profession with reasonable skill and safety. As such, the health committees of the boards are established in terms of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974 (The Act) to regulate and/or advise health practitioners on matters of impairment. Impairment means any condition, such as mental or physical condition or the abuse of or dependence on chemical substances, which affects the attitude, judgment and renders a health practitioner incapable of practicing a profession with reasonable skill and safety.

 

The Functions of the Health Committees

The Health Committees function is to:

1. establish policies and procedures and to enlist co-operation and support for the prevention or alleviation of circumstances which may lead to impairment of health practitioners and students.
2. establish mechanisms and procedures for the early identification of impairment in students and practitioners.
3. implement procedures for the management of crisis situations which may threaten patient safety and care.
4. undertake informal and formal assessments on allegations of impaired of health practitioners and students.
5. 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.
6. appoint investigation committees on an ad hoc basis to undertake investigations.
7. consider applications by students or health practitioners regarding impairment processes and resolutions.
8. oversee the implementation of treatment and rehabilitation programmes of impaired health practitioners and students.

 

To report allegations, enquire or submit information relating to health impairment of registered health practitioner and students use email: BasaniM@hpcsa.co.za