The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act Confidentiality: providing and protecting information • Health care practitioners hold information about patients that is private and sensitive. • The National Health Act (Act No. 61 of 2003) provides that this information must not be given to others, unless the patient consents or the health care practitioner can justify the disclosure. • Practitioners are responsible for ensuring that clerks, receptionists and other staff respect confidentiality in their performance of their duties.