Section 12, The Allied Health Professions Act, 2022

(1) The Council shall be responsible for the regulation ofallied health professionals and allied health facilities. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Council shall be responsible to - (a) authorise the registration of - (i) allied health professionals; and (ii) allied health facilities; (b) authorise the issuance of a licence to - Functions of (3) Summons for the attendance of witnesses or other persons at any inquiry shall be signed by the Registrar, and oaths and affirmations shall be authenticated by the person presiding over the Committee. (4) The Disciplinary Committee shall, after an inquiry into a complaint submit its report containing recommendations to the (5) Where, based on the report and recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee, the Council is satisfied that a case has been established against an allied health professional, it may order that the - (a) registration of the registered allied health professional be - (i) suspended for such an interim period, not exceeding 12 months as may be specified in the order; or (ii) continued for such interim restricted period,not exceeding 12 months and subject to conditions specified in the order; (b) name of the registered allied health professional be struck off the Register; (6) The Council shall not execute any punishment in accordance with its decision until an appeal has been heard or it is certain that no such appeal has been lodged after 30 days from the date of its decision. 38. (1) A person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Council under subsection (5) of section 37 may, within 30 days from the date of the decision, appeal to the Minister. Appeal. (i) registered allied health professionals; (ii) establish or operate allied health facilities; (c) approve, organise or cause to be organised training programmes, courses, lectures, seminars or conferences for the allied health professionals; (d) regulate the standards of practice, competence, conduct and ethics of registered allied health professionals; (e) regulate the inspection of allied health facilities and monitor enforcement and compliance thereof, (f) advise the Minister on matters relating to the allied health profession; and (g) regulate and standardize the training of Allied Health Professions. (h) perform such other functions as are conducive to the objects of the Council. (3) The Council may, in respect of any region, district or smaller area, appoint a senior registered professional to be the supervisory authority to a registered allied health professional. (4) A supervisory authority shall- (a) exercise general supervision over the allied health professionals in accordance with the rules made under this Act; (c) had qualification withdrawn or cancelled by the awarding authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded; (d) has been prohibited from practicing in an allied health profession in Sierra Leone or outside Sierra Leone; (e) has been alleged to have committed serious professional misconduct as stipulated in the code of ethics and professional conduct and any other guidelines and directives issued by the Council; and (f) has obtained registration under this Act by fraud or misrepresentation. 37. (1) A Disciplinary Committee appointed by the Council under subsection (2) of section 11 shall have the power of the High Court to- (a) inquire into complaints made against an allied health professional; and (b) in the adjudication of complaints under paragraph (a) - (i) issue summons to an allied health professional against whom a complaint is made, to appear before it; and (ii) subpoena, a person to attend a hearing of the Committee, to give evidence and to be examined as a witness. (2) Where a person fails to appear before a Disciplinary Committee within 14 days after summons have been issued for his appearance, the Disciplinary Committee shall proceed with the matter as if the person is before it. Investigation o f complaints. (b) refer a complaint made against a registered allied health professional accompanied by a report to the Council; (c) report to the Council a registered allied health professional convicted of an offence and the nature of the offence committed as soon as possible after he is aware of the conviction; (d) suspend from practice a professional convicted of an offence for a period not exceeding 3 months in accordance with rules made under this Act and shall, immediately after the suspension make a report, including the circumstances and reasons for the suspension, to the Council; (e) The supervisory authority shall, on receiving information of the death of a registered allied health professional, notify the Registrar in writing of the death. PART IV–ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS