Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
A nationwide crackdown on unregistered health facilities and illegal medicine dealers has been launched.
This follows a surge in cases of prescription drugs being sold through unauthorised channels and healthcare services being provided by unqualified individuals, raising serious concerns over patient safety and public health.
The Health Professions Authority (HPA) and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) on Friday announced intensified surveillance and inspection exercises across all provinces, warning that offenders will face prosecution and the full force of the law.
The move follows recent inspections that uncovered a growing number of unregistered facilities illegally dispensing prescription medicines and offering healthcare services without the requisite licences.
Health experts say increasing demand for healthcare services, drug shortages in some areas and the proliferation of informal businesses have contributed to the rise of illegal healthcare operators.
The trend has raised concerns about patient exposure to misdiagnosis, unsafe treatment practices and substandard medicines.
In a joint statement, HPA secretary-general Mrs Clotilda Chimbwanda and MCAZ director-general Mr Richard Rukwata said the illegal activities pose a significant threat to public health and undermine efforts to ensure safe, effective and regulated healthcare delivery.
“The HPA and MCAZ wish to jointly warn the public against the illegal operation of unlicensed health facilities, illicit distribution of prescription medicines, and the unsafe dispensing of medicines by unqualified individuals,” they said.
Recent inspections revealed that some unregistered facilities were selling prescription medicines, including anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-infective, antimicrobial and antiparasitic drugs.
Among the medicines identified as being sold through unauthorised channels are phenobarbital, carbamazepine, fluconazole, tramadol, glibenclamide, praziquantel, co-trimoxazole, metronidazole, doxycycline and clotrimazole.
Mrs Chimbwanda and Mr Rukwata stressed that prescription medicines should only be dispensed by licensed pharmaceutical personnel operating from registered pharmacies and upon presentation of a valid prescription.
They warned that self-medication and the purchase of medicines from unauthorised sources expose patients to incorrect dosing, harmful drug interactions, counterfeit or substandard medicines, treatment failure and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The regulators said the illegal sale and distribution of prescription medicines, as well as the operation of unregistered health facilities, constitute serious violations of Zimbabwe’s health laws.
Under the Health Professions Act, it is an offence to establish or operate a health institution without registration and approval from the relevant authorities.
The Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act also prohibits the sale, distribution and dispensing of medicines by unlicensed persons or from unlicensed premises.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over individuals masquerading as qualified healthcare professionals and offering diagnosis, prescription and treatment services without the necessary qualifications or regulatory approval.
Mrs Chimbwanda and Mr Rukwata said enhanced surveillance and inspection exercises were already underway throughout the country.
“Enhanced surveillance and inspections are underway across all provinces. Offenders will face prosecution and the full force of the law,” they said.
The two regulators urged the public to seek medical treatment and pharmaceutical services only from registered healthcare professionals and licensed institutions.
Patients were advised to verify the credentials of healthcare providers by checking for valid practising certificates, HPA premises registration certificates and MCAZ licences for dispensing personnel and pharmacy premises.
