HPA initiatives get thumbs up

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke-Senior Reporter

THE Health Professions Authority (HPA) of Zimbabwe has been applauded for its initiatives aimed at promoting equitable healthcare, particularly through registration and renewal discounts for healthcare facilities in marginalised areas.

This approach is expected to significantly enhance the country’s journey towards universal health coverage, ensuring that underserved communities have access to essential medical services.

At a congress held in Harare on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini emphasised the transformative impact of establishing healthcare facilities in all regions.

He urged healthcare practitioners to consider setting up operations in these areas as a means of giving back to communities that supported them.

“I also urge you practitioners gathered here today to look at setting up facilities in the marginalised areas, looking at this also as a way of giving back to the communities that have served us all well and made us all who we are today.”

He stressed the need for legislative frameworks to adapt to modern healthcare demands.

“I urge the Health Professions Authority to guarantee public safety and efficient health care delivery in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s universal health care Index currently stands at 54 percent, well above the sub-Saharan African average of 43,8 percent.

He called for the safe and effective integration of artificial intelligence and telehealth into the healthcare system, emphasising their potential to improve service delivery and health outcomes.

“Artificial intelligence is with us, and we must embrace it in a safe and effective manner. Telehealth is a global trend that must also be prioritised in our legislative amendments.”

Health Professions Authority secretary general, Mrs Clotilda Chimbwanda, reiterated the authority’s commitment to improving healthcare quality through rigorous inspections. In 2023, the authority conducted a significant number of initial inspections, reflecting a proactive approach to ensure facilities meet minimum standards before commencing operations.