THE late veteran actor-comedian Walter Matthau once said: "My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more."

THE late veteran actor-comedian Walter Matthau once said: "My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more."

As facetious the remark might seem, it nonetheless conjures up the serious problem of bogus doctors that poses a kingsize headache for the South African authorities.

This week, the South African Medical Association warned the public to be on the lookout for bogus doctors, who are mushrooming across the country.

In spite of this, scores still flock to these doctors for help with dire consequences.

Most worrying is Sama's assertion that it can do little about this because, as its chairman Denise White says, "we don't have jurisdiction over them."

This is a dereliction of moral duty on an issue that clearly cries out for intervention.