AN EAST London optometrist found guilty of misconduct by the Health Professions Council of South Africa was suspended from operating a mobile clinic for the next three years.
The practitioner, Dr Mervyn Chetty, pleaded guilty to two counts which included conducting a mobile practice without approval from the board and conducting eye examinations instead of eye screening.
Chetty who operates near the Oriental Plaza in East London was fined R50000 payable in five installments with effect from this month.
He was further sentenced to stop operating a mobile clinic for three years, suspended for three years on condition that he is not found guilty of the same charges during the period of suspension.
Yesterday, Chetty confirmed he was found guilty by HPCSA and the sentences against him.
Chetty was charged for conducting a mobile practice without obtaining written approval from the Board. He was also charged for conducting eye examinations instead of eye screenings.
HPCSA spokeswoman Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the complaint was lodged last year in April by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) on behalf of a client.
Scheepers said the HPCSA was concerned about the number of fraud related cases against practitioners, as well as the guilty verdicts and the impact this could have on the healthcare industry.
“Not only is committing fraud strictly against the council’s good practice guidelines, but, if caught, the practitioner risks damage to the profession’s reputation as well … The Council has advised its healthcare practitioners to adhere to good practice guidelines and this includes notifying the HPCSA if they suspect one of their colleagues may be committing fraud,” she said.
Last month the Daily Dispatch reported that the HPCSA was finalising more than 500 cases of fraud, negligence and misconduct by health practitioners nationally.
According to the HPCSA report the most common cases were overcharging or charging for services not rendered, insufficient care and mismanagement of patients and incompetence.
Scheepers said the council took a hard line against fraudulent activity committed by healthcare practitioners registered with the HPCSA. She encouraged the public and other stakeholders to report allegations of fraud by healthcare practitioners for further investigation by the HPCSA. —
EL optometrist fined R50k for misconduct
The practitioner, Dr Mervyn Chetty, pleaded guilty to two counts which included conducting a mobile practice without approval from the board and conducting eye examinations instead of eye screening.
Chetty who operates near the Oriental Plaza in East London was fined R50000 payable in five installments with effect from this month.
He was further sentenced to stop operating a mobile clinic for three years, suspended for three years on condition that he is not found guilty of the same charges during the period of suspension.
Yesterday, Chetty confirmed he was found guilty by HPCSA and the sentences against him.
Chetty was charged for conducting a mobile practice without obtaining written approval from the Board. He was also charged for conducting eye examinations instead of eye screenings.
HPCSA spokeswoman Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the complaint was lodged last year in April by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) on behalf of a client.
Scheepers said the HPCSA was concerned about the number of fraud related cases against practitioners, as well as the guilty verdicts and the impact this could have on the healthcare industry.
“Not only is committing fraud strictly against the council’s good practice guidelines, but, if caught, the practitioner risks damage to the profession’s reputation as well … The Council has advised its healthcare practitioners to adhere to good practice guidelines and this includes notifying the HPCSA if they suspect one of their colleagues may be committing fraud,” she said.
Last month the Daily Dispatch reported that the HPCSA was finalising more than 500 cases of fraud, negligence and misconduct by health practitioners nationally.
According to the HPCSA report the most common cases were overcharging or charging for services not rendered, insufficient care and mismanagement of patients and incompetence.
Scheepers said the council took a hard line against fraudulent activity committed by healthcare practitioners registered with the HPCSA. She encouraged the public and other stakeholders to report allegations of fraud by healthcare practitioners for further investigation by the HPCSA. —
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