Fairview Hospital now deserted
THE shut Fairview Hospital in Lusaka has been completely deserted following the revocation of licences for all medical practitioners who were founding working on Saturday after a lawful order by authorities for the health facility to close down.
A check by the Daily Nation yesterday however found the health facility completely deserted with only security personnel
guarding the place.
The Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) announced the suspension of practicing licences and further sanctions on the health facility at a press briefing in /usaka yesterday.
Lusaka’s premier medical facility was closed last week by the Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) and its operating licence revoked for stocking and dispensing expired drugs.
The decision to revoke the licence was arrived at after inspectors from the council carried out an impromptu visit to inspect compliance levels at the hospital and discovered that the facility was endangering the lives of patients. The council yesterday announced that Fairview Hospital had not complied with the lawful order to close as a routine inspection by HPCZ on Saturday found doors wide open and patients been attended to.
In a letter addressed to Fairview Hospital chief, HPCZ registrar Aaron Mujajati told the facility that it had been charged with further penalties and that all medical practitioners found working on Saturday had their practicing licences suspended pending hearing by the displinary committee.
“Your hospital has been charged with further penalties as provided in the HCPZ Act and all medical practitioners who were found working on 31st March, 2018 have their practicing licences suspended pending hearing of the matter by the disciplinary committee,” the letter reads in part.
When asked how many medical practitioners had their licences suspended, HPCZ public relations officer, Terry 0usonda told journalists that the council was still compiling a list and would inform the nation soon.
Mr Musonda urged medical practitioners not to be involved in any form of illegality not even at the behest of their employers.
He said the health practitioners were at liberty and had a professional obligation to report employers who encouraged them to be part of illegalities.
Mr Musonda assured health practitioners that they were well protected by the law and that the council had the muscle to ensure that they were protected in such matters.