Upholding Integrity, Accountability and Public Trust
The Traditional Health Practice Association of Southern Africa (THPASA NPC) is committed to promoting the highest standards of professional conduct, ethical practice, accountability, and public protection within the Traditional Health Practice profession.
Professional membership carries responsibilities not only to patients and communities, but also to colleagues, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and the profession as a whole.
All members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects integrity, dignity, competence, respect, and service.
Why Ethics Matter
Ethics form the foundation of professional practice.
They help to:
- Protect patients and communities;
- Promote public confidence;
- Support professional accountability;
- Preserve the integrity of Indigenous Health Knowledge Systems;
- Guide responsible decision-making;
- Strengthen professional standards.
THPASA believes that ethical practice is inseparable from professional excellence.
THPASA Code of Ethics
The THPASA Code of Ethics and Professional Practice Standards establishes minimum standards applicable to all members, regardless of membership category, designation, modality, or field of practice.
The Code provides guidance on:
- Patient welfare and safety;
- Informed consent;
- Confidentiality and privacy;
- Professional competence;
- Advertising and communication;
- Financial integrity;
- Indigenous Knowledge protection;
- Training and mentorship ethics;
- Professional boundaries;
- Research ethics;
- Governance conduct;
- Disciplinary accountability.
Core Ethical Principles
Respect for Human Dignity
Every patient, community member, student, colleague, and stakeholder must be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
Integrity
Members must act honestly and avoid deception, fraud, misrepresentation, or exploitation.
Accountability
Members remain accountable for their conduct, professional decisions, and compliance with applicable standards.
Competence
Practitioners must work within the limits of their training, experience, and competence and seek assistance or referral where necessary.
Service to Community
Traditional Health Practice should contribute positively to the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
Patient Rights & Protection
THPASA promotes:
- Informed consent;
- Confidentiality;
- Respectful treatment;
- Freedom from coercion;
- Transparent fees;
- Access to appropriate referrals;
- Safe practice environments.
Patients must be provided with sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding services, interventions, risks, alternatives, and costs.
Ethical Training & Ukuthwasa
THPASA recognises the importance of traditional initiation, mentorship, and apprenticeship pathways.
Training relationships must be conducted with:
- Dignity;
- Respect;
- Non-violence;
- Appropriate safeguarding;
- Ethical supervision.
The Association prohibits cruelty, exploitation, unlawful confinement, forced labour, sexual abuse, and financial exploitation within training environments.
Indigenous Knowledge Protection
Traditional Health Practitioners are custodians of Indigenous Health Knowledge Systems.
Members are expected to:
- Protect Indigenous Knowledge from exploitation;
- Respect lineage and cultural protocols;
- Promote ethical knowledge-sharing;
- Support fair attribution and benefit-sharing;
- Prevent unauthorised disclosure of restricted knowledge.
THPASA opposes the misappropriation, distortion, or harmful commodification of Indigenous Health Knowledge.
Professional Conduct
Members are expected to:
- Communicate honestly and respectfully;
- Avoid misleading claims;
- Use professional designations correctly;
- Maintain appropriate records;
- Conduct themselves professionally online and offline;
- Respect colleagues and other healthcare professionals.
Advertising must be factual and may not contain guarantees of cure or misleading representations.
Professional Ethics & Governance
Office-bearers and members must:
- Avoid conflicts of interest;
- Act impartially;
- Protect organisational integrity;
- Declare material interests where required;
- Support ethical governance and accountability.
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed whenever they may compromise impartiality, public confidence, or organisational decision-making.
Complaints & Professional Discipline
THPASA maintains processes for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints relating to professional misconduct.
Disciplinary processes are guided by:
- Procedural fairness;
- Natural justice;
- Proportionality;
- Public protection;
- Education and remediation;
- Restorative principles where appropriate.
Any person may submit a complaint regarding alleged professional misconduct.
Professional Ethics & Standards Committee
THPASA’s Professional Ethics & Standards structures support:
- Ethics promotion;
- Professional standards development;
- Complaints administration;
- Compliance monitoring;
- Ethics education;
- Practice guidance.
The Committee assists the Association in maintaining high professional standards and protecting public confidence in the profession.
The THPASA Ethical Pledge
All members are encouraged to uphold the THPASA Ethical Pledge, affirming:
- Ethical and lawful practice;
- Respect for patients and communities;
- Protection of Indigenous Knowledge;
- Commitment to continuous learning;
- Service to society;
- Professional accountability.
Ethics Resources
Available resources may include:
- Code of Ethics and Professional Practice Standards;
- Professional Conduct Guidelines;
- Complaints Procedures;
- Ethics Advisory Notices;
- Ethics CPD Programmes;
- Governance Directives.
Report a Concern
THPASA encourages the reporting of unethical conduct, professional misconduct, fraud, exploitation, abuse, or conduct that may place patients, communities, or the profession at risk.
Concerns may be reported through:
- Legal Affairs & Compliance;
- Professional Ethics & Standards Committee;
- Online Support, Ticketing & Information Centre (OSTIC).
This page would elevate THPASA from having ethics as a governance topic to presenting ethics as a central pillar of professional identity—alongside membership, CPD, governance, and Indigenous Knowledge stewardship.