SIXTEEN doctors who refused to treat sick children at Addington Hospital in Durban last week will have to answer to the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

SIXTEEN doctors who refused to treat sick children at Addington Hospital in Durban last week will have to answer to the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Last week the council received a complaint that Addington paediatricians refused to attend to life-threatening cases because they were on strike.

Spokesperson for the council Bertha Peters-Scheepers said it was the first complaint received by the regulatory authority relating to the strike.

"The government has obtained a court interdict against the striking doctors to return to work no later than Tuesday or face the consequences," Peters-Scheepers said.

"Some medics have dared government to fire them as they would prefer to go into private practice or emigrate.

"Once a complaint has been received, we lodge a complaint against the doctor and are obliged to inform other regulatory bodies around the world."

The HPCSA can deregister doctors, making it impossible for them to practise in SA.

HPCSA registrar and chief executive Boyce Mkhize said yesterday that despite many warnings, doctors had continued to strike.

"We urge all doctors concerned to be mindful of their obligations and to consider the huge investment in acquiring their skills and not to throw this away," Mkhize said.