Online Reporter
Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
THE Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe has shut down 35 healthcare facilities operating illegally nationwide this year as part of its efforts to regulate the healthcare sector and protect public health. Investigations revealed that some of the facilities had failed to renew their licences, while others were operating without the requisite statutory licences.
This bold action is part of the authority’s commitment to safeguarding public health and weeding out unscrupulous operators and bogus practitioners from the healthcare sector.
In an interview yesterday, HPA secretary-general Mrs Clotilda Chimbwanda said the closed facilities were found to be in “gross violation of health standards and legal requirements,” including operating without valid licences and employing unqualified personnel.
Violations leading to the closures included a critical lack of valid operating licences and, in some alarming instances, facilities being operated by non-qualified personnel masquerading as healthcare professionals,” she said.
“These figures are not just statistics; they represent a successful effort to remove significant risks from our communities.”
“Unregistered facilities and bogus practitioners pose an existential threat to patient safety.
“They operate without oversight, often using substandard equipment and administering inappropriate, sometimes dangerous, treatment.
“Our efforts are essential to not only shut these places down but also to bring the individuals responsible to justice.”
She also implored all legally operating health institutions to prominently display a valid HPA operating licence, which confirms their registration and compliance with the Ministry of Health and Childcare’s standards.
Mrs Chimbwanda also added that any individual providing consultation or treatment must possess a current and valid practising certificate from the appropriate Health Professions Council.
“This is proof of their professional registration, qualification and fitness to practise in Zimbabwe.
“The recent crackdown marks the beginning of an intensified, routine inspection drive that will continue across all provinces.”
The healthcare watchdog also confirmed that it is pursuing to ensure a sustained presence and thorough investigation in both urban and rural areas.
“This is not a temporary campaign; it is a permanent commitment to regulatory excellence,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that every single health facility operating in Zimbabwe meets the rigorous legal, safety, and operational standards required to protect our citizens. The inspections will not cease until this objective is achieved, and our public can have full confidence in the licensed healthcare providers throughout the nation.”
