Hon Chair, this is a matter which for myself and hon Singh has become almost like our bread and butter. We deal with it on a very regular basis. Just in brief, hon members: The challenge here is regulations and the Act, in terms of the Health Professions Council Act, which prescribes the requirements in terms of registration of locally trained professionals, including medical professionals.
Section 25 of the Act also deals with registration of foreign qualified graduates. We have been dealing with this matter with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, HPCSA, because one of those key problematic areas. There are two areas which are problematic. The one is in terms of the applicant for registration must submit an original certificate of good standing from the registration authority where that person has qualified.
In the past, the only equivalent which was required was a certificate of good character from the institution of training where that person qualified. So, that was easier to manage. Now, this provision of original certificate of good standing of not more that six months issued by the registration authority has been there in the regulations but it was not really applied in that way. It was more of a character from the university, which was easier, because you are a graduate and you can obtain a certificate from your institution.
The moment there was emphasis now on the registration authority. That created problems because when you are just a fresh graduate, you have not been practicing. You might have been registered with the SA Health Professions Council, like in our case here in South Africa, when you are a clinical medical student until you complete your final year. So, there is registration and you can prove that.
However, the certificate of good standing talks to your practice. So, when you have not practised, then that becomes an obstacle. That is one issue on which we say we must be deal with the SA Health Professions Council. The other issue which the hon member had also raised is about internship because one of the requirements also is that you must submit proof of having done internship.
A very few countries which will give an opportunity for a foreign graduate also employ them as an intern. So we thought we have dealt with that matter in our policy but down the line we realise that the Health Professions Council of South Africa is still stuck to what they had been practicing. So, it is a matter on which we are in engagement. We want to rediscuss the matter with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and hopefully we can be able to find each other in this regard. Thank you.