Thousands of health professionals have been suspended from the Health Professions Council (HPCSA) register for non-payment of annual fees, it said on Monday.
"Almost 10 000 healthcare practitioners were suspended from the HPCSA register this past weekend for failure to pay their annual fees," spokeswoman Bertha Peter-Scheepers said.
They included 1 500 medical and dental practitioners, 6500 emergency care workers, and almost 600 psychologists.
"The council exhausted all avenues in contacting the practitioners, including letters, telephone calls and notification via professional associations."
It was a crime to practice any of the professions under the ambit of the council when suspended or erased from the register, Peter-Scheepers said.
Practitioners had to pay their annual fees on or before April 1 every year.
"The money is used by the council to act on its mandate of protecting the public and guiding the professions. The HPCSA is calling on employers to ensure all practitioners have paid their annual fees and are legally practising their professions."
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 