The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is the
statutory body
A statutory body or statutory authority is a body set up by law (statute) that is authorised to implement certain legislation on behalf of the relevant country or state, sometimes by being Primary and secondary legislation, empowered or deleg ...
regulating specific healthcare professions within South Africa.
The council oversees healthcare practice, establishes standards for education and training, and upholds ethical professional standards as prescribed by the Health Professions Act No. 56 of 1974.
History
The Health Professions Council of South Africa was established in 1974 under the Health Professions Act No. 56 of 1974.
Regulation of medicine and allied professions in South Africa began in the 19th century, with the establishment of the Colonial Medical Council in the
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope (), commonly referred to as the Cape Province () and colloquially as The Cape (), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa. It encompassed the old Cape Co ...
in 1891. The
Natal Medical Council was then established in 1896, followed by the Medical and Pharmacy Council of the
Orange River Colony
The Orange River Colony was the British colony created after Britain first occupied (1900) and then annexed (1902) the independent Orange Free State in the Second Boer War. The colony ceased to exist in 1910, when it was absorbed into the Unio ...
in 1904 and the
Transvaal Medical Council in 1905.
Following the formation of the
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa (; , ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day South Africa, Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the British Cape Colony, Cape, Colony of Natal, Natal, Tra ...
, the South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC) was formed in accordance with Act 13 of 1928 to fulfil the functions of the former provincial councils.
Act 56 of 1974 replaced Act 13 of 1928, and the HPCSA as it exists currently was formed. The SAMDC continues as a separate legal entity.
Professions regulated by the HPCSA
The HPCSA regulates 12 categories of healthcare professionals. They are:
All of these professions have at least one professional title that is protected by law, including those shown above. Anyone using these titles must be registered with the HPCSA. It is a criminal offence for someone to claim that they are registered with the HPCSA when they are not or to use a protected title that they are not entitled to use.
References
External links
* {{Official website, https://www.hpcsa.co.za/
Medical and health organisations based in South Africa