Gauteng Department of Health issued a warning to the public not to fall prey to bogus healthcare practitioners who try to solicit bribes before ‘allegedly’ offering their so-called services.
The warning comes after a person impersonating a medical doctor was nabbed at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) on Sunday night after they demanded that an escort to a patient pay R700 for the ‘Dr’ to assist the patient.
The member of the public became suspicious when the bogus doctor who was wearing green scrubs with the name Dr Zulu imprinted on the uniform, advised her to meet at the pedestrian gate where the said payment was to be made.
"The escort notified the security personnel who eventually apprehended the bogus doctor at the hospital’s pedestrian gate. When asked to produce her Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
registration number and a persal number by the security and facility management,the bogus doctor was unable to do so, " said GDoH spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.
Modiba says the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital team has since opened a case at Diepkloof police station.
He says the bogus doctor spent a night in custody and was due to appear at the Orlando Magistrate Court.
The GDoH urges the public to be vigilant by not falling for such scams.
"The healthcare workers in the facilities will never ask members of the public to pay them directly. If there are any fees payable in the hospital, this will be done at patient administration and an invoice will be issued to indicate exactly what the patient is paying for, " said Modiba.
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