The Health Professionals Council of Zambia has closed down five health facilities on the Copperbelt for various breaches like dispensation of expired drugs.
HPCZ Chief Executive Officer Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati confirmed this to News Diggers! in a statement, Thursday.
The facilities closed include Section 5 Mine Clinic and Baluba Shaft Mine Clinic both located in Luanshya. Others are Copperbelt University Clinic in Kitwe, Sinozam Friendship Hospital, also in Kitwe, and Hilltop Hospital located in Ndola.
“Health Professions Council of Zambia- HPCZ has cited and closed down five (5) health facilities in Luanshya, Kitwe and Ndola on the Copperbelt Province for various violations, contrary to the laws of Zambia. The facilities closed include Section 5 Mine Clinic and Baluba Shaft Mine Clinic both located in Luanshya. Others are Copperbelt University Clinic in Kitwe, Sinozam Friendship Hospital also in Kitwe and Hilltop Hospital located in Ndola,” Dr Mujajati stated.
He has explained that the health facilitates had been closed for various reasons after inspections.
“The closures come following ongoing inspections by HPCZ officers on the Copperbelt Province who identified the following violations at the respective facilities; Section 5 Mine Clinic in Luanshya, was discovered stocking and dispensing expired drugs and medical supplies. Operating under poor state of infrastructure as well as lack of clinical supervision. The clinic also had inadequate essential equipment. For Baluba Shaft Mine Clinic, was found to be stocking and dispensing expired drugs and medical supplies, contrary to section 60 sub section 1 of the Medicine and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013 of the Laws of Zambia. The facility had poor storage of medicines including mixing food items with medicines in a fridge. HPCZ inspectors further noticed lack of clinical supervision at Baluba Shaft Mine Clinic.And the clinic has been running an unlicensed ambulance, contrary to section 36 of the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009,” he stated.
“Copperbelt University Clinic has been cited for stocking and using/dispensing various expired medical supplies and drugs at multiple points of care including the emergency tray which violates the Medicine and Allied Substances Act. Sinozam Friendship Hospital, was also found to be stocking and dispensing various expired medical supplies and drugs at multiple points of care i.e Outpatient Department (OPD) treatment room, Emergency room, laboratory, Theatre, labour ward, medical ward and stores, thereby contravening section 60 subsection 1 of the Medicine and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013 of the Laws of Zambia. The facility has been offering unlicensed ambulance services, contrary to the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia.It was further discovered that Sinozam Hospital has been offering unaccredited Anti-retro Viral Treatment (ART) services, against provisions of section 36 of the Health Professions Act.”
He stated that for Hilltop Hospital in Ndola, it had been closed for stocking and dispensing expired drugs and medical supplies.
“All the five (5) facilities have been closed pursuant to section 50 (1) (a) of the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia which provides that the Council may order closure of a health facility where, ‘the health facility is violating licence requirements in a manner that presents danger of imminent harm to patients’. The health facilities will be charged accordingly for breaching the Health Professions Act and will only be allowed to reopen after the Council is satisfied that corrective measures have been taken to address the violations identified,” stated Dr Mujajati.
Chinese run Sinozam Friendship Hospital is the busiest private Institution which offers scanning and x-ray services for patients from Wusakile Mine Hospital as Kitwe Teaching Hospital does not have the services.
