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Our Story

The Surgical Assistant began with a simple conversation between a doctor working toward a registrar post, and a non-doctor with big ideas.

Assistants provided for 2000+ cases & counting.

Over R4 250 000 income generated for assistants

Together, we recognised a shared frustration:

Surgeons scrambling to find last-minute assistant cover
GPs and MOs eager to assist, but locked out of the system
A healthcare environment where doctors were volunteering just to be seen

We believed there had to be a better way.

So we built it.

TSA was created to simplify surgical work and grow opportunity.

Since launching, we’ve:

Assisted with 3,500+ surgical cases
Generated over R6.5 million in income for assistants
Built a national network of doctors and surgeons working together more efficiently than ever before

Our Mission Lives in 3 Pillars

🛠️ Creating Work

We make it easy for surgeons to book assistants — and for assistants to find meaningful, paid opportunities.

📚 Upskilling & Training

Through the TSA Academy, we offer CPD-accredited, exam-focused, locally relevant learning to help doctors grow and prepare for CMSA exams.

💸 Creating Funding

We’re actively building bursary initiatives and NPO partnerships to support doctors who are committed to their communities — but need a hand getting there.

How It Works

For surgeons, TSA is your streamlined, go-to booking solution.

No more phone tag. No more scrambling. Just quality assistance, when you need it.

For GPs and MOs, it’s a platform for growth:

✅ Register easily
✅ Get matched to surgical lists
✅ Learn on the job — with mentorship from specialists who were once in your shoes

Even if you’re just starting out, TSA opens the door to experience, confidence, and career momentum.

This Is Just the Beginning

TSA is more than a platform — it’s a practical solution to real problems in the surgical space.

We’re focused on:

Creating work for doctors who need opportunity
Providing training that prepares them for the CMSA and clinical life
Building systems that make collaboration easier, faster, and better for everyone involved

We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel.

We’re just making it turn more smoothly — for everyone in the operating theatre.

Le Roux

Co-Founder & Probono Orthopedic MO

Register With Us

Register as a Specialist Surgeon or Medical Officer/ GP to get onto our database and have access to our services.

Name

Surname

Email Address

Contact Number

I Want To Register As A: I Want To Register As A: Specialist Surgeon Medical Officer / General Practitioner

Field (e.g Orthopedics)

Geographical Area that you practice

Current Position and Area that you practice

Surgical Interests

Surgical Experience

I agree to be contacted by The Surgical Assistant via the details provided I agree to be contacted by The Surgical Assistant via the details provided Yes, I do

Our Mission

N

Making life easier for Assistants and Surgeons.

N

Surgeons are now connected to Assistants through our platform.

N

Assistants are getting opportunities they previously would not have had.

N

Simple and admin free for every party.

We are committed to transforming the surgical landscape, facilitating seamless collaborations between medical professionals, and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to learn and grow in the field of surgery.

Questions, Answered

Our process is simple, but there are always questions that need answers to.

If, though, the answers aren’t here, feel free to reach out and we’ll get you that answer.

Ask A Question

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How does registration work?

Simple, Step 1 is to register on our website.

After the 1st vetting procedure, our admin staff will send you a link to upload your documents and do the full registration.

Our 2nd step of vetting and verification will now take place. If you have been successfully vetted, our admin team will send you a follow up e-mail with confirmation and instructions on what to expect.

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What does the vetting process entail?

Vetting with TSA aligns with the vetting requirements of major hospital groups in South Africa, ensuring clinical governance and adequate risk mitigation. From a medico-legal perspective, each private hospital group conducts its own risk assessments for doctors wishing to practice or assist in their facilities. To streamline your registration journey, The Surgical Assistant has integrated vetting with all major groups.

To get started, simply register on our platform and follow the step-by-step guide. We require a certified copy of your ID, HPCSA registration, professional degree, two references, work and surgical experience, and your surgical preferences. Once vetted on our platform, you will be able to assist at any of the major private hospital groups.

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Why do I need to upload my documents?

Uploading, verification, and vetting of your documents are mandated by and aligned with the requirements of every major healthcare hospital group in South Africa.

You will need to upload general FICA documents, such as your ID, verification of your degree, and any additional courses or diplomas completed. TSA also requires a general list of details to cross-reference and verify your eligibility to assist in theatre.

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Do I need Indemnity Insurance?

Yes, it is a reasonable expectation that any medical practitioner in South Africa has Indemnity Insurance for both the Private and State sectors. While the state might provide coverage for certain aspects, it does not cover personal complaints or HPCSA complaints, making indemnity insurance essential.

Although indemnity insurance is not required from the onset, it is mandatory for any GP wanting to do locum calls in hospital ECs or practice independently. To support you in this journey, TSA has partnered with industry-leading experts. We will cover you with our indemnity insurance for the first three months after booking your initial case through TSA, and afterward, we will connect you with experts to ensure you remain covered.

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Why does TSA take 15%, where does this go?

The 15% “finder’s fee” is directly reinvested into you. This fee supports TSA in actively engaging with new surgeons and hospitals to ensure you receive as many opportunities as possible. To achieve this, we employ four full-time staff and are currently developing an app to streamline the process of obtaining opportunities.

Our dedicated admin team also tracks all of your cases, payments, and follow-ups, ensuring you are not among the many doctors who assist but never get paid—a reality we experienced before starting TSA. No good things come for free, and this investment ensures that you benefit from a well-supported system designed to maximize your opportunities.

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How will I be notified of cases?

All cases are currently communicated via WhatsApp Broadcast. When an opportunity arises, a message is sent to all eligible doctors on our platform. To receive these broadcasts, you need to save the Surgical Assistant Support number on your phone. Typically, we receive 10+ replies within a minute or two of sending the WhatsApp. Candidates are then cross-referenced based on their experience, proximity to the hospital, and whether they have assisted the surgeon previously.

If the surgeon agrees, we notify the successful candidate directly via WhatsApp and send a meeting request via email, indicating the date, time, place, and the surgeon they will be assisting.

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Will I get cases straight away?

Ideally, yes. We are building a platform that offers regular assisting opportunities for all the assistants affiliated with TSA. Over the last 12 months, TSA has experienced significant growth, and we now have more than 1,000 registered doctors across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. Currently, supply exceeds demand, so the chance of an immediate opportunity is slim. Cases are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and linked to experience.

However, as we continue to grow, more opportunities will arise, and we are actively working to ensure that everyone gets at least one opportunity per month.

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How often are cases available?

Cases get advertised on a close to daily basis. As assistants get slates, it happens that a surgeon asks for the same assistant again. As such, this slate will no longer be advertised via Whatsapp Broadcast.

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Where is TSA based?

Our founders are both based in Cape Town with employees in Johannesburg. As this business was started as a side-hustle, we are semi-remote with all funds being redirected into building the business.

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When can I expect payment?

Our most popular question and one that does not have a set answer.
In short, this differs from surgeon to surgeon.

Some surgeons do payment runs on a monthly, bi-monthly, three-monthly and a quaterly basis. Some surgeons only pay once they are paid by the Medical Aids.

WCA cases pay between 18-24 months later.

Where does this leave you? Frustrated is a short answer. At TSA where are investigating every avenue to ensure you get paid as soon as possible. As our founder is one of the 800 unemployed doctors in South Africa, we understand the issue with work being done at not getting paid shortly thereafter.

There is nothing not worth pursuing.

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