The Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPA) has closed 35 healthcare facilities operating illegally across the country this year.
Investigations revealed that some facilities had failed to renew their licences, while others were operating without the required statutory approvals.
HPA Secretary-General Clotilda Chimbwanda told The Herald on Friday that the facilities were in “gross violation of health standards and legal requirements,” including employing unqualified staff. She said:
“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.
“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 urged all legally operating health facilities to prominently display a valid HPA operating licence, showing their registration and compliance with the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s standards.
Chimbwanda also stressed that anyone offering consultations or treatment must hold a current and valid practising certificate from the relevant Health Professions Council. She added:
“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.”
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