Privacy Policy

SOSPOSA is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

• Identity Information: Name, surname, ID number, professional registration numbers (HPCSA)
• Contact Information: Email address, telephone numbers, physical address
• Professional Information: Qualifications, practice details, specialisation, employer information
• Membership Information: Membership status, subscription history, course enrolments
• Financial Information: Payment details, billing information, transaction history
• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information (when using our website)

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information directly from you when you:

• Register for SOSPOSA membership
• Enrol in courses or CPD programmes
• Register for conferences and events
• Complete the Self-Appraisal process
• Contact us via phone, email, or our website
• Subscribe to our communications

3. Purpose of Processing

We process your personal information for the following purposes:

• To manage your SOSPOSA membership
• To provide access to courses, CPD programmes, and learning materials
• To issue certificates and track CPD points
• To process event registrations and payments
• To administer the Self-Appraisal certification programme
• To maintain the Find a Sedation Practitioner directory (with consent)
• To communicate about events, courses, and society news
• To comply with HPCSA and regulatory requirements
• To improve our services and member experience

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on: your consent, the necessity to perform a contract with you (membership agreement), compliance with legal obligations, and our legitimate interests in providing professional development services to healthcare practitioners.

5. Information Sharing

We may share your personal information with:

• HPCSA for CPD point verification and compliance purposes
• Our insurance partner (Alphabelle) for appraised members seeking insurance benefits
• Event venues for conference and workshop registration purposes
• Payment processors for secure transaction handling
• Service providers who assist with our operations (under strict confidentiality agreements)

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

6. Public Directory

With your explicit consent, your name, location, and contact details may be displayed in our "Find a Sedation Practitioner" public directory. You can opt out of this directory at any time by contacting us or updating your profile settings.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as you maintain an active membership, plus an additional period as required for record-keeping purposes and compliance with CPD regulations. CPD records are retained in accordance with HPCSA requirements.

8. Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including secure servers, encrypted data transmission, password protection, access controls, and regular security assessments.

9. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request confirmation of what information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Right to Object: Object to processing for direct marketing purposes
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time
• Right to Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator

10. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Please refer to our Cookie Policy for detailed information.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.