SA Reflexology Society - Registration, Practice Number, Professional Indemnity and Medical Aid

Registration, Practice Number, Professional Indemnity and Medical Aid

Statutory Recognition of Therapeutic Reflexology

At the end of October 2000 the Integrated Health Professions Liaison Committee, delivered a presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health for the Statutory Registration of Therapeutic Reflexology.

On 3 November 2000, Parliament passed the Bill and South Africa was the first country to recognise reflexology as a profession.

The South African Reflexology Society [TSARS] was instrumental in gaining the Allied Health Professions Council’s statutory recognition for therapeutic reflexology as a health profession in February 2001 [GN R127 of 12 February 2001].

Registration: Therapeutic Reflexologist

Full registration was granted to Therapeutic Reflexologist with effect from 01 December 2004.

To practice legally in South Africa the therapeutic reflexologist is obliged to register with the AHPCSA in terms of the Allied Health Professions Act, No 63 of 1982.

Definitions in the Act [Sec 1].

· "allied health profession" means the profession therapeutic reflexology, or any other profession contemplated in section 16 (1) to which this Act applies;

· 'qualification' means any degree, diploma or certificate awarded after examination of a person's proficiency in a particular subject;

· 'therapeutic reflexologist' means a person registered as such under this Act;

· ‘therapist’ means a person registered as a therapeutic reflexologist in terms of the Act;

· "unprofessional conduct" means improper, disgraceful, dishonourable or unworthy conduct or conduct which, when regard is had to the profession of a person who is registered in terms of this Act, is improper or disgraceful or dishonourable or unworthy;

· “Therapeutic Reflexology” means the stimulation of the hands, feet, ears and body, including specific pressure techniques or mobilisation of hands and feet for a therapeutic outcome. [R127 of 12 Feb 2001]

Reference to therapist in the Act [Sec 2 (b) and (c)].

· A therapist may treat or provide treatment for diagnosed disease, illness or deficiencies in humans; or prevent such disease, illness or deficiencies in humans and

· any reference in the Act, except in section 16(3), (4), (5) and (6), to practitioner includes a therapist.

Registration as a therapeutic reflexologist [Sec.17].

Subject to the provisions of this Act, registration confers the right upon a therapeutic reflexologist to –

(a) practise for gain each profession in respect of which he is registered and

(b) in particular to perform for gain any of the acts specially pertaining to each such profession and to indicate each such profession upon his nameplate or in such other manner as may be prescribed.

Offences by unregistered persons, and penalties [Sec 31. (1), subsection (2) section 41]

Any person shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both a fine and such imprisonment who is not registered as a therapeutic reflexologist and who-

(a) for gain practises therapeutic reflexology;

(b) for gain performs any act specially pertaining to therapeutic reflexology;

(c) pretends, or by any means whatsoever holds himself or herself out, to be a therapeutic reflexologist, whether or not purporting to be registered; or

(d) uses the title of therapeutic reflexologist, registered in terms of this Act, or any other title or any name, description or symbol indicating, or calculated to lead persons to infer, that he or she holds the qualification of therapeutic reflexologist.

Other offences, and penalties [Sec 32A (e) and (f)]

Any person who-

(a) pretends to be a person registered in terms of the Act; or

(b) supplies or offers to supply to any person not registered under this Act, the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974), or the Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No. 50 of 1978), any instrument or appliance which can be used, or is claimed to be effective, for the purpose of diagnosing, treating or preventing physical or mental defects, illnesses or deficiencies in man, knowing that such instrument or appliance will be used by such unregistered person for the purpose of performing for gain an act which such unregistered person is in terms of the provisions of this Act or the Health Professions Act, 1974, or Nursing Act, 1978, prohibited from performing for gain, shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both a fine and such imprisonment.

Disciplinary Powers of the Council [Sec 24]

Any therapist who after the holding of an inquiry referred to in section 23 (1) is found guilty of unprofessional conduct or of conduct which in consideration of any profession in respect of which that practitioner/therapist is registered, is unprofessional, shall be liable to one or other of the following penalties, namely-

(a) a caution or a reprimand or a reprimand and a caution; or

(b) suspension for a specified period from practising any profession in respect of which he is registered or from performing any act specially pertaining to any profession in respect of which he is registered;

(d) a fine not exceeding the prescribed amount.

Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA)

The functions of the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa include the promotion and protection of health of the public in RSA and the controlling of the practice of allied health professions, i.e. ayurveda; Chinese medicine; chiropractice; homoeopathy, naturopathy; osteopathy; phytotherapy; therapeutic aromatherapy; therapeutic massage therapy; therapeutic reflexology; unani-tibb and any other profession to which the Act applies.

Council Registration
To register as a Therapeutic Reflexologist contact:
The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa
Private Bag X4
QUEENSWOOD 0121
Tel No (012) 329-4001
e-mail:
website: http://www.ahpcsa.co.za/

Practice numbers

The Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa is an independent representative entity that administers practice numbers on behalf of the South African health care sector.
As of February 2006, therapeutic reflexologists can apply to the Board of Healthcare Funders of South Africa for a practice numbers.

The Board of Healthcare Funders of South Africa,
P O Box 2324
PARKLANDS 2121
Tel No (011) 537-0200

e-mail:

Professional Indemnity Insurance: Therapeutic Reflexologist

Regulation Relating to Professional Indemnity : Repeal
It has come to the attention of TSARS that the Minister of Health has repealed the Regulations relating to indemnity cover for healthcare professionals registered with the AHPCSA: Gazette 33498 of 30 August 2010: Government Notice No R755

The Registrar has informed TSARS that it remains the prerogative of every therapist to assess the risk of a potential malpractice claim in an increasingly litigious society and to take cover if he/she so wishes, but there is no current legal requirement for any practitioner or therapist to carry malpractice insurance.

Medical Aid Benefits

Various Medical Schemes, including Government Employment Scheme [GEM], have made provision in 2009 to pay for Therapeutic Reflexology treatments according to the different schemes plans.

TSARS is currently working on draft procedure codes [REFERENCE PRICE LIST, RPL] in order to negotiate with the various medical schemes and ultimately enable patients to claim for reflexology treatments from their medical funds in the future.

For the public

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