By Staff Reporter
At a time when drug and substance abuse alongside other mental health issues are on the rise in Zimbabwe, the Health Professions Authority Zimbabwe (HPAZ) has warned the public about the mushrooming of illegal medical rehabilitation centres operating across the country, calling the trend a serious threat to public health and safety.
HPAZ secretary general Clotilda Chimbwana in a statement, said they are gravely concerned over the proliferation of unregistered facilities offering services such as substance abuse treatment, mental health rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy—often without the oversight of trained professionals or adherence to medical standards.
“These illegal facilities often lack qualified personnel, appropriate infrastructure, and adherence to established medical protocols,” the statement read. “This poses serious risks to patients, including substandard care, abuse and neglect, spread of infectious diseases, administration of harmful or unproven treatment, and lack of recourse.”
The HPA, established under the Health Professions Act (Chapter 27:19), is the regulatory body tasked with licensing and overseeing all health professionals and institutions in Zimbabwe. It warned that any health facility operating without official registration is in direct violation of the law and subject to legal action.
The Authority is working closely with law enforcement agencies to identify, shut down, and prosecute the operators of these illegal centres.
As part of its public advisory, the HPA urged Zimbabweans to verify the legitimacy of any medical rehabilitation facility before seeking services. A complete list of licensed centres is available on the Authority’s website at www.hpa.co.zw.
“HPA is committed to protecting the health and safety of the public,” the statement said. “We will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that healthcare services in Zimbabwe are provided in a safe and regulated environment.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected illegal facilities to the HPA or the nearest police station.
