Hospitals have been warned that bogus health inspectors are trying to fleece health services publisc and private.
THE Office of Health Standards Compliance (Office of Health Standards Compliance) has raised alarm over individuals posing as official health inspectors and allegedly attempting to extort money from healthcare providers under false pretences.
The regulator says it has received reports of a person claiming to be linked to the organisation and informing a healthcare practice that an inspection had been scheduled. In the reported incident, the impersonator allegedly suggested that financial payment could be used to “fix” or overlook compliance issues.
The OHSC has confirmed that no such inspection was authorised and that the individual involved had no connection to the organisation.
According to the regulator, the conduct is not only fraudulent but directly undermines the integrity of South Africa’s health oversight system. It stressed that legitimate inspectors are strictly prohibited from accepting cash, gifts, or any form of personal benefit in exchange for inspection outcomes or regulatory decisions.
