News
Health Compliance Officers to be introduced
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – Stricter monitoring for local health professionals is on the way with the introduction of compliance officers in proposed amendments to the Turks and Caicos Health Professions Ordinance.
The officers are being introduced under Section VIII of the ordinance which deals with the Discipline of Health Workers and will serve under the Health Professions Authority. They will be charged with both investigating and
Medical premises and their records must be open to these officers who will routinely monitor the registration of health workers, their conduct toward patients and any other matter in the interest of maintaining the dignity of the profession.
Officers will be able to turn up at medical premises without notice but must produce ID. While there, an officer may request and copy any records, books, or other documents and any electronically stored information they deem necessary.
They are also given the power to search the premises for anything that will be relevant to their investigation. The TCIG is also making sure that the officers won’t be blocked from doing their duty.
The proposed amendments say any person who willfully obstructs a compliance officer in the performance of his functions is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment for a term of two years, or both.
The proposed amendments were released for public consultation which closed in late August.