Protecting the Public,the HPCSA or the Profession?

Abstract

The past 2,5 years has been an extraordinarily eventful period for the new Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). It came into being amidst great controversy in 1998 following democratic elections, in which a largely "pale male" (to quote the Sunday newspapers) Medical and Dental Professional Board (MDPB) was elected. Dr. Zuma, the then Minister of Health, dragged her feet in appointing her representatives to the MDPB for months, probably hoping the "problem" would go away if she waited long enough, and delaying the inauguration of the new HPCSA and its Professional Boards. No sooner than the new HPCSA first met,its newly appointed CEO and Registrar, Dr. Ashley Memela, resigned amidst a cloud of controversy, compounding the administrative problems plaguing the organisation after an extensive transformation process.