Escalating crimes against GPs, medical staff a national crisis 09 May 2021 - 11:02 More than 30 robberies at private practices in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the Free State have been reported to the SA Medical Association since mid-2020. File photo. Image: 123RF/SAMSONOVS Doctors in private practice are under siege by criminals who pose as patients and clear out their bank accounts, steal their devices and take medication including antiretrovirals and cough syrup.
In the most recent incident, former special adviser to the national health department and general practitioner Dr Esthras Tlou Moloko was attacked at his Germiston practice on the East Rand on Tuesday.
Siyanda Ndlovu The independent panel also found that medical aid schemes and administrators were withholding payments to black and Indian doctors on the perception of fraudulent claims. Picture for illustration: iStock
The report was due to be released on Sunday, only to be blocked by Gems and BHF’s urgent application at the 11th hour.
Ngcukaitobi, advocate Adila Hassim, and Kerry Williams were appointed by the Council for Medical Schemes back in 2019 to probe allegations by the National Health Care Professional Association (NHCPA) of unfair treatment by medical schemes.
Gems filed the application urgently stating that the report was halted because it was going to seriously harm its reputation.
Interim report: medical aids discriminated against black practitioners An interim report released has found that Discovery, Medscheme and GEMS have been unfairly classifying black health professionals as likely to commit fraud. Picture: 123rf.com
JOHANNESBURG - Medical aid schemes have been found guilty of racially discriminating against black medical practitioners.
An interim report released by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi found that Discovery, Medscheme and GEMS have been unfairly classifying black health professionals as likely to commit fraud.
Chairperson of the inquiry, Ngcukaitobi and his panel, held public hearings last year commissioned by the council for medical schemes.
The Section 59 report probed allegations by members of the National Health Care Professionals Association who accused medical aid companies of racial profiling, especially when the companies were required to pay do