POPIA Compliance

Weight Loss Doctors is committed to processing personal information lawfully and responsibly in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). This statement sets out how we apply the principles of POPIA across our service. It works alongside our Privacy Policy.

1. Our commitment

We handle personal information, including the special category of health information, with the care it deserves. We collect only what we need, use it only for the purposes we have explained, keep it secure, and respect your rights as a data subject.

2. The eight conditions for lawful processing

POPIA sets out eight conditions for the lawful processing of personal information. We apply them as follows:

• Accountability. We take responsibility for complying with POPIA and have measures in place to give effect to its conditions.
• Processing limitation. We process your information lawfully, with your consent or as needed to provide our service, and in a way that is not excessive.
• Purpose specification. We collect information for the specific purpose of assessing and supporting your weight management care, and we tell you what that purpose is.
• Further processing limitation. We do not use your information for unrelated purposes without your consent.
• Information quality. We take reasonable steps to keep your information accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Openness. We are transparent about what we collect and why, as set out in our Privacy Policy.
• Security safeguards. We protect your information with appropriate technical and organisational measures.
• Data subject participation. We give you the ability to access, correct, and request deletion of your information.

3. Special personal information

Health information is treated as special personal information under POPIA and receives additional protection. We process it on the basis of your explicit consent and for the purpose of providing medical care through appropriately qualified professionals who are bound by confidentiality.

4. Consent

We rely on your informed, voluntary, and specific consent to process your health information. You may withdraw consent at any time, although this may mean we can no longer provide certain services. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that has already lawfully taken place.

5. Your rights as a data subject

Under POPIA you have the right to be notified about the collection of your information, to access it, to request correction or deletion, to object to processing in certain cases, and to complain to the Information Regulator. We explain how to exercise these rights in our Privacy Policy.

6. Information Officer

We have appointed an Information Officer who is responsible for ensuring our compliance with POPIA and for handling requests and complaints relating to personal information. You can reach our Information Officer at hello@weightlossdoctors.co.za.

7. Data breaches

In the event of a security compromise affecting your personal information, we will take steps to contain and address it, and we will notify you and the Information Regulator where required by law.

8. Cross-border transfers

Where any of our service providers process information outside South Africa, we take steps to ensure that your information receives a comparable level of protection, in line with POPIA requirements.

9. The Information Regulator

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your information has been handled in breach of POPIA. Contact details are available at inforegulator.org.za.

10. Contact us

For any POPIA-related questions or requests, contact our Information Officer at hello@weightlossdoctors.co.za or write to RaiMed Centre, 590 Dr Chota Motala Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa. Phone 065 757 3674.