Zimbabwe’s Health Professions Authority (HPA) is intensifying action against unregistered health facilities and bogus practitioners, citing patient safety concerns.

A report by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on 24 September said 48 illegal health facilities and rehabilitation centres had been closed so far this year, with closures carried out through the police.

The regulator’s enforcement drive was discussed at the HPA’s Annual General Meeting. Operating outside registration and qualification requirements can put patients at risk of misdiagnosis, unsafe procedures and delays in receiving appropriate care.

The latest closures highlight the importance of checking a facility’s registration and confirming that healthcare providers are appropriately qualified before seeking treatment. The HPA has not detailed in the report how many additional inspections or closures are planned.