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Medical tariffs: new discussions

The Medical and Dental Professions Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is embarking on a new process to determine a tariff of fees for medical and dental practitioners to charge for services rendered after due consideration to the views expressed by a wide spectrum of stakeholders.

The Board decided to terminate the process engaged in earlier this year and to commence with a renewed and more comprehensive public participation process to determine the Guideline Tariffs, as per Section 53 of the Health Professions Act.

On 7 August 2012, the HPCSA announced that the Board had determined Guideline Tariffs for medical and dental practitioners, which were to be published in the Government Gazette. Following concerns raised by practitioners, the President of the HPCSA announced a delay in the publication of the Guideline Tariffs on 15 August 2012, pending the consideration of the matter by the Council and the Board.

Subsequently, the Board published a notice in the Government Gazette of 14 September 2012, indicating its intention to determine and publish Guideline Tariffs and requesting interested persons to submit their comments on the proposed Guideline Tariffs by 19 October 2012.

Engaging with the public

Upon reflection, the Board has decided to withdraw the proposed Guideline Tariffs published on 14 September 2012 thereby rescinding its earlier resolution, to engage in a new and more comprehensive public participation process to gather inputs from interested persons and parties regarding the determination of the Guideline Tariffs.

A new notice seeking comments from interested parties will be published in the Government Gazette and in national print media shortly.

In the new process, the Board seeks input regarding all aspects of the methodology and process of determining the Guideline Tariffs, the appropriate basis (such as the National Health Reference Price List) for the Guideline Tariffs, how to counteract the effects of inflation, costs and any other relevant factors.

A longer period of public comment than what is required by the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act has been provided to ensure maximum participation by stakeholders.

Previous representations made by stakeholders to the Board will be taken into account in this new process.

Contact information

Interested persons and organisations are invited to submit their written comments to the Registrar (for the attention of the General Manager:  Professional Boards) by 31 January 2013 by either:

  • Posting it to PO Box 205, Pretoria, 0001;
  • Delivering it by hand at 553 Madiba (previously Vermeulen) street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0002; or
  • Emailing it to:  bhekim@hpcsa.co.za.

(Press release, November 2012) 

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