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Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa

OTASA News and Updates

The 19th World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Congress in Bangkok, Thailand

The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) robustly shaped the future of occupational therapy on the global stage. At its General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand,

Reflection on the WFOT Congress, February 2026 by Lebo Lefine

Lebo Lefine, Lecturer in the Division of Occupational therapy, Sefako Makgatho University, South Africa My name is Lebo Lefine, and I work at Sefako Makgatho

Reflection on the 19th WFOT Congress, Bangkok, Thailand

By Dr. Fasloen Adam Senior Lecturer in the Division of Occupational Therapy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa I had the privilege of attending the 19th World

Discover the remarkable journey of OTASA

Celebrating 80 years of dedication, progress, and unwavering commitment to advancing occupational therapy in South Africa.

Testimonials

"Being an Occupational Therapist has opened my eyes to the resilience and potential within every person. It’s a privilege to walk alongside clients as they rediscover their strengths, and the lessons they’ve taught me have shaped my own growth. As an OTASA member, I’ve experienced the impact of strong leadership and mentorship that truly supports and strengthens our profession. OTASA has provided a platform for advocacy, connection, and continuous personal and professional development.

Through OTASA, I’ve had valuable opportunities to advocate for OT and continue growing personally and professionally "

Being a member of OTASA, first as a student and then for the following 42 years, has really enriched my OT career, not only by keeping me informed about professional aspects and developments, but also by enabling me to widen my networks and engage with OTs nationwide, due to the membership benefits such as the free Focus newsletter and Congresses and workshops and webinars which are far more affordable for members. As a member, one gets to know how much is being done by OTASA to promote the profession and support the workforce, and realises the excellent value for money the membership fee is. I am so glad I have been able to show appreciation to OTASA by giving back in service such as joining my branch committee and then the Publications standing committee. Thank you OTASA!

Announcements

Health Professions Council of South Africa Key 2026 Ethical Rule Changes:

The HPCSA has introduced significant ethical rule changes effective in late 2025 and 2026, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, end-of-life decisions, and corporate employment of practitioners. Key updates include new guidelines for AI use (Booklet 20), revised rules for withholding treatment (Booklet 7), and strict pre-approval requirements for unregistered employers (Rule 18).

Booklet 20 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Care (New, 2025/2026): Establishes ethical guidelines for using AI, emphasizing that accountability remains with the practitioner, not the technology. It requires transparency with patients regarding AI tools in their care, data privacy adherence, and ethical training for practitioners.
- - Accountability: Explicitly states that AI cannot replace professional clinical judgment; practitioners remain ultimately responsible for all clinical decisions and interpretations of AI output.
- - Transparency: Patients must be informed if AI tools are being used to inform their care.
- - Validation: Only AI systems validated for reliability and cultural appropriateness in South Africa should be used, aligning with SAHPRA regulatory requirements

Booklet 7 - Withholding/Withdrawing Treatment (Updated): Strengthens patient autonomy, requiring consultation with patients or their representatives on end-of-life decisions. It now codifies a "hierarchy of consent" for when patients cannot make decisions themselves and allows for withdrawing treatment if it brings little benefit, even if family requests it.
- Patient Representatives: Formally recognises a person nominated by the patient to make healthcare decisions if the patient loses capacity.
- Hierarchy of Consent: Provides a clear order of authority for decision-making (e.g., spouse first, then parent, etc.) if no representative was appointed.
- Futility and Best Interests: Reaffirms that practitioners may withhold or withdraw treatment they deem futile, provided the decision is grounded in the patient's best interests and dignity.

Amended Rule 18 - Employment of Practitioners (Effective early 2026): Reintroduces the requirement that registered practitioners must have HPCSA approval to be employed by unregistered corporate entities. Practitioners have until 31 May 2027 to comply with this, ensuring clinical independence in corporate environments. This rule was amended in late 2025 via Board Notice 856. It now mandates that practitioners may only accept employment from unregistered corporate entities (like private companies or schools) if that employer has been formally approved by the HPCSA.
- Compliance Deadline: A grace period has been granted, requiring all affected practitioners to ensure compliance by 31 May 2027.
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD): The HPCSA has discontinued the random sampling of practitioners for CPD verification. Instead, all practitioners must ensure ongoing compliance, and recognized service providers will now integrate attendance data directly into the HPCSA's systems.
Updates to Other Booklets (2025/2026): Changes have been made to guidelines regarding the management of chronic diseases, healthcare waste, and ethical billing practices.

Significant Rule & Procedural Changes

Other Recent Updates Other booklets that received updates leading into this period include:

Booklet 16: New guidelines on the usage of Social Media, emphasizing digital professionalism and the prohibition of posting patient photos or derogatory comments.
Booklet 11: Updated guidelines regarding Over-servicing and Perverse Incentives.

You can download the full, current versions of these booklets directly from the HPCSA Ethics page.