It is inhuman for Health Professional Council of Zambia to close down health institutions and Schools on flimsy grounds, says Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya.
Speaking when he inaugurated and inducted the new Health Proffesional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) Board, Minister of Health, Dr. Chilufya castigated the Health Proffesional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) for inhuman and irrational conduct in the discharge of its regulatory duty.
Dr. Chilufya recently removed Dr Aaron Mujajati as CEO and Registrar from HPCZ and transfered him to Ndola General Hospital.
Dr . Chilufya also threatened to disband the institution for causing massive disruptions in the health sector and for promoting conflict by its rampant closures of health facilities on what he called unjustified grounds.
He also expressed surprise that the HPCZ had issued purported disciplinary measures against the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health who was the controlling officer.
He said the Council had behaved with utmost insubordination towards the Permanent Secretary.
He said the Council has gone on rampage closing down health institutions on grounds such as a missing fire extinguisher.
He also bemoaned the lack of rational conduct by the Council to levy punitive costs as high as K300,000 to Health facilities that can not afford such charges.
He said the Council had literally taken the role of a police service and was insensitive to the realities and challenges existing in the health sector.
He said although the body was formed to regulate training, service delivery and was a technical wing of the Ministry of Health, the recent conduct of the Council and its officials failed to recognize the environment that they operated.
He regretted that besides certain public institutions that were closed, the Health Professional Council had closed Mission Hospitals and levied them exorbitant fees when they provided such services as an act of charity.
Recently Professionals Council of Zambia closed down five health facilities on the Copperbelt for various violation.
Former Chief Executive Officer and Registrar Aaron Mujajati said the institutions were in Luanshya, Kitwe and Ndola.
Dr. Mujajati named the facilities closed as Section 5 Mine Clinic and Baluba Shaft Mine Clinic both located in Luanshya.
Others were Copperbelt University Clinic in Kitwe, Sinozam Friendship Hospital also in Kitwe and Hilltop Hospital located in Ndola.
Dr. Mujajati also closed other 32 health facilities across the country including medical schools such as Copperbelt University School of Medicine.
But Dr. Chilufya said the Council was combative, and unreasonable in the discharge of its duties.
He said the role of HPCZ was a technical partner of the Ministry of Health.
He said the institution was tyrannical so far and had unleashed a reign of terror against health institution.
He called for the new Board to work as partners and supportive, and not as a monster to devour existing health institutions.
He said government had limited resources and the process of delivering universal health to all was a daunting task.
He said the Council had disrupted health service delivery and promoted conflict with other government agencies.
He said the Council was expected to be partners to other stakeholders such as private clinics, Mission Hospitals and others, in the health sector and the Council should have played a supportive role.
He said the recent work of HPCZ had undermined the work of the Patriotic Front in the health sector and the goal to achieve universal health coverage.
Dr Chiufya said he will allow terror of closures, penalties and fines because that was not the reason why the HPCZ created.
“The Council had gone on rampage closing down health institutions on grounds that a fire extinguisher was missing. There was lack of rational conduct by the Council to levy punitive costs as high as K300, 000 to Health facilities that cannot afford such charges. The Council had literally taken the role of a police service and was insensitive to the realities and challenges existing in the health sector. Although the body was formed to regulate training, service delivery and was a technical wing of the Ministry of Health, the recent conduct of the Council and its officials failed to recognize the environment that they operated,” he said.
“The role of HPCZ was a technical partner of the Ministry of Health. The institution was tyrannical so far and had unleashed a reign of terror against health institution. I call on the new Board to work as partners and supportive, and not as a monster to devour existing health institutions.“Government has limited resources and the process of delivering universal health to all was a daunting task. The Council had disrupted health service delivery and promoted conflict with other government agencies. The Council was expected to be partners to other stakeholders such as private clinics, Mission Hospitals and others, in the health sector and the Council should have played a supportive role,” he said.
This is now political interference, why can’t you let these professional bodies work independently?
Government can’t buy a fire extinguisher when they can buy fire fighters at 42 million, evacuate VIP patients abroad, sponsor 25 member first lady delegation to the USA etc. Bwana Chilufya stop playing politics all the time.
Dr Mujajati did a great job at HPCZ and should be proud of his works. I hate to think that Dr Chilufya does not understand how important a fire extinguisher is in a public place such as a hospital. To think these are the caliber of doctors Zambia has is bone chilling! I wouldn’t allow Dr Chilufya to put a band-aid on my scratch.
Dr.Chilufya, are you not the one who appointed Dr.Mujajati and the HPCZ Board? What does that say about your judgement? The Minister of Health is to blame
Bashi chilufya less amipale for restoring sanity to that institution, balibasamwa sana ba Muyayati.
Good call Honorable Minister… But the damage is done!
I was shocked to learn how HPCZ and ZAMRA went on a rampage, suspending healthcare institutions, then viciously publicizing it. This erratic, cadre-like behavior has caused the health sector to lose its respect and integrity. In a country where majority would rather turn to traditional witch doctors, this unprofessional behavior has caused nothing but more harm.
Shame on those who don’t understand the value of their own profession!
This what happens you elect incompetent chaps like Lazy Lungu his incompetence spreads like a cancer through his appointees …Chilufya should have been kicked out a longtime ago and in prison for corruption.
Gaining mileage at the peril of people…..the masses will be served in dirty, filth environments, offered half baked doctors and prescribed expired medicines….meanwhile the minister has access to better health facilities outside Zambia….. Its a shame that wings are formed to bring some sanity in their respective professions but alas the greedy politicians will twist and squeeze them just so they can remain in power and empower themselves and those close to them….. Its only in Zambia where you can find a Quantity Surveyor by profession to be appointed as permanent secretary in
a sensitive Ministry like Health… And people remain quiet over it but whispering in the backgrounds that its not ok….and politicians capitalize on our docility and do and get away with anything….. We…
….. We are a cursed nation I tell you because the learned are the ones doing useless things with impunity because the system they find themselves in to operate is rotten….we indeed a cursed nation I tell you….
We are not a curse nation. The other things you have said are ok but not this one……..
….all this ranting about Mujajati is just to pave way to elevate people they know to big positions…. Are you telling me the newly appointed will do anything apart from drawing salaries and allowances…. At the expense of tax payers…they have been rendered toothless from the start and we shouldn’t expect anything from them…..
Chilufya is looking for bootlickers and yes men..not professionals this is why our regulators have become impotent all scared of doing the right thing as they are afraid of being fired….when was the last time you heard ZEMA halting a govt project? All these organisations are now infuriated with brainless cadres …Power SX Energy drink is another example and a Zambian company so be laying off 56 workers.
Today you have lazy lungu appointing Deputy PS…you think you can have technocrats operating in such an environment
I expected criminal charges to follow, some officers have been illegally collecting money from Indians and Chinese. The reign of terror is typical of hardcore UPND cadres, that’s why we must at all cost don’t vote for Hichilema and GBM. GBM showed us what he’s capable of doing during his short stint at Ministry of Defense. Nimpiya shakwa noko?
You are delusional, your comment makes no sense here.
What are the terms of references for this Council?
Bwana Minister, you want them to turn a blind eye on exactly the reason they are there? If Clinics and such other health bodies are offering health services that fall short of acceptable standards, they are then a danger to society not a benefit. For once up your game; seek for adquate health services funding instead of entertaining midiocrity and preferring to charter plans to South Africa when those in your class have a headache.
Well Well Well now that Dr.Mujajati is CEO of Ndola Teaching Hospital we are waiting to see the standards that the Hospital will attain since he is the one in the forefront advocating health institutions to be of high standards
Why you put doctors to be heading hospitals is just beyond me…go to ministry of health and you will find doctors behind tables pushing pens. Why do you have Business Administrators heading these places …let doctors be consultants full stop.
Dispensing expired drugs is human???
That’s corrupt Dr. Chilufys’s modus operandi he has made millions with his dodgy Indian Pharmaceutical partners shortchanging taxpayers with expired or near expired drugs and placebos pills….remember that NGO report that they paid off with taxpayers money to cover themselves like the social cash transfer debacle.
I totally agree with the Minister. It is time we started accepting reality that we are faced with e.g.:
>You will all agree that a prison in the US is much better kempt than our Ndola Central Hospital. Reason is simple – we are a third world economy and the US is first world (the gap is 300 years by rule of the thumb).
>You will also agree that if we are to rate universities in a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest and 10 the best) then Leeds University would score 8 and UNZA would get a definitive 1.
The minister is trying to inculcate this kind of reasoning to the members of HPCZ. They must identify shortfalls and quickly engage the ministry to have these resolved within the shortest POSSIBLE time other than just shutting down clinics and denying the poorest of the poor some much…
….needed treatment.
HOW MANY PATIENTS HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THIS UNREASONABLE SHUTTING DOWN OF CLINICS???
HPCZ mandate is to ensure compliance to laws, and that standards and quality are not compromised regardless of excuses.
It’s not the function of HPCZ to “quickly engage” the ministry or to be involved in rectifying the issues. Each health institution knows what to do and where to go for assistance if need be.
So many people have lost their lives because of lack of compliance and incompetence by people like you and that Dr Chilufya
Are public health institutions exempt from the law?
Yes, they are! Just like the traffic police who go round in their vehicles without tail lights, standing and sitting on the sideboards, etc, etc…! Nipa Zde kaili…
Yes. Have you a grz vehicle charged over speed limit offence.
Have you ever seen a public vehicle pay road tax or fitness
How can gov’t fight govt.
That young man was a frsher from Ridgeway compus. He needed to understand how BOMA operates
The minister is right and we shouldn’t try to politicize this issue. There was lack of maturity in the manner in which HPCZ was conducting itself under Mujajati. They should have been working with health facilities to rectify inadequacies by proposing standards suitable for our level of development, and to introduce them in a gradual manner with patient safety in mind. Rushing to implement first world standards in a poor setting was too ambitious and not realistic. It doesn’t hurt to consult others when you are running such an institution.
I second the Minister’s timely & quick Action. HPCZ was becoming a monster. Thank you Dr. for bringing sanity to the health sector.
May be and only may be Mujajati was a bit over zealous, but overall his intentions were not evil. In the short term, his actions were going to have repercussions but in the long term the benefits were going to be enormous and Zambia was going to be a hub of excellence in the field of medical training and offering medical services. The reason you always fly politicians to specialized treatment to South Africa is because they have chosen excellence in their medical institutions over quantity.
It is not about the number of clinics, hospitals and medical training institutions which you have but the quality of service which you offer. No wonder UTH is just a transit point to the mortuary and unfortunately a certain medical doctor doesn’t see anything wrong with that.
The Pediatric chaps supporting Mujajati are grossly misinformed about the reason HPCZ exists! I may not have agreed with Chilufya on many things but on this one he is 100% right and the removal of Mujajati was long overdue! We need level headed and mature individuals who know how to reason for those positions. We had many mature people who served as registrars but we never had the levels of acrimony we came to see under one big headed small doctor with only UTH exposure to his name! The minister should further institute investigations in the operations of HPCZ under this chap, especially on the alleged money laundering activities that were going on under his watch! Financial Audits should also be carried out! A lot of criminal activities cannot be ruled out under this incorrigible chap!…
There you have it in Black and white .A direct confirmation that Doctor Mujajati was a victim of a political witch hunt by this clueless government led by an air mile President of the sky who dodges responsibility and accepts substandard services .Politics should be handled by politicians and professionals matters must be dealt with by people in the field like Mujajati .It is the job of politicians to listen to what professionals are saying and implement their recommendations for the benefit of service users .Right now the country is run by tuma media directors especially ka ‘ Amos I know it all you know know nothing chanda.’
In life, we have two ways of doing things – the RIGHT and the WRONG way.
1. Doing the right thing the wrong way = missed opportunity!
2. Doing the Wrong thing the right way = Wasted effort
3. Doing the Wrong thing the wrong way = Failure!
4. To succeed in life, you need to do the right things the right way!
Mujajati is not HPCZ and HPCZ is not Mujajati! Leadership is a position of Trust! Treat people with respect and they will return the favour! Become a bully and your downfall will be 100% certain!
If you want to raise standards, get ISO to help you. Raising standards is not a destination but a long journey! It’s a long process and closing facilities is a counterproductive approach which only breads resentment and endangers affected lives!
Disclaimer: Wisdom is not taught in…
Am seeing Bowman Lusaka being deployed to another ministry because he is entering in other peoples’ ministries. We like ministers and public officials who are bootlickers. I remember Kambwili fighting for rights of workers.He was kicked because he was stepping on toes of other people. Mujajati,even with his shortcomings,made sure that sanity was brought in the health sector. Some of these health centres are death traps. The minister should deal with bad attitude of some of the health workers. People die on queues owing to poor attitudes from these health workers. They even go to an extent of dispensing expired drugs to patients. I expect the minister to be proactive and deal with erring health workers.
The toil of a f00l wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth! Ecclesiastes 10:15-16
Do not put young doctors with very little experience in positions of authority! Young doctors must observe the protocol of hierarchy! A student is not greater than their teacher! Where was the former registrar getting the audacity and courage? Was he on weed? There are no shortcuts in Medicine! Follow the queue! Come to Ndola we teach you manners! Uzamuziba Yesu!
For those that worked in govt will tell you anything above director is political. You are political cadre automatically. Thats how things operate. Novices will disagree but thats how the system operates.
And thats why any change of gov’t directors going up are retired in national interst.
All your comments make sad reading. It means that the youth with fresh ideas have no chance of improving anything in Zambia. It is forward never – backward ever.
We do deserve the government that we have. We chose it ourselves.
Dr Chilufya how did you ever graduate medical school??? Dr Mujajati did a wonderful job. Health institutions and schools were kept on their toes, he promoted standards.
You ba PF are the worst government ever! You don’t want someone who reasons independently you just want to be surrounded by YES BWANA. How can we develop?
I think you’ve done a good job with the Ministry of Health portfolio Mr Minister, but on this I disagree with you. Dr Mujajati did a very good job of increasing our confidence in the countries Health care systems by ensuring systems work to the expected standard. We all aporeaciated that for once a government system was operating to international standards. Health care is a life or death situation, standards must be upheld or the institutions that don’t comply closed. People are dying because of buying fake or expired drugs or from being treated by unlicensed or ill trained personnel. Please reinstate him he made you as head look good. It’s not about just opening hospitals it’s also about standards. Life is at risk
Advise from the Honorable minister of health: Turn a blind eye to the wrongs. Just do as I say.
Apparently Dr. Mujajati has been too overzealous in his role as Registrar of HPCZ. Mujajati failed to consult its Govt partners, such as the Higher Education Authority which regulates the operations of Universities in Zambia. Did Dr. Mujajati know that CBU’s Medical School is training more than 20 medical students sponsored by the Govt of Lesotho? Does Mujajati hold a PhD degree to appreciate the intricacies of running a Medical School. This is the very doctor who thoughtlessly entered the arena of supporting the cultivation of Cannabis, yet this plant is of Asian origin – not indigenous to Zambia. Does this doctor care of many people that roam the streets due to mental disorder induced by smoking Cannabis? I hope Mujajati will soon sober up.
Mujajati’s supporters who were eating with him think he was doing a good job and now they are very sad that their money-making cartel is no more and they are not sure how they will survive! Too bad! Mukose because we are not yet done with ka Mujajati! Patients died during those acrimonious closures of health facilities! Us who lost loved ones at the hands of Mujajati want Justice! He’ll have his day in court and may his remaining days on earth be miserable ones!
SOM GOVERNMENT CLINICS WERE CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1950s. AND THEY HAVE NEVER PAID SUBSCRIPTION OR REGISTRATION FEES. MUJAJATI CAME SUDDENLY UPON THEN AND DEMANDED ALL THE FEES IN 14 DAYS OR RISK BEING CLOSED. THAT IS WHERE HE LACKED WISDOM. HE SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED. INSTEAD OF RUSHING TO CLOSE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE THEIR ONLY FACILITY WAS CLOSED BY MUJAJATI?
The gentleman was over zealous.well done honourable. Where on earth can you charge P.S.. uzamuziba.
Mujajati still owes me an explanation why HPCZ deducted me twice for my license in 2018.K500
Dr. Chilufya if I were president Lungu I would have sent you in Foreign Mission to learn that fire extinguisher is not flimsy grounds, There is ZERO tolerance towards safety. Dr. Chilufya has given license to health care professionals not to keep standards. Many people in Zambia have died in health care facilities because of compromised standards. It’s inhuman for Dr. Chilufya to permit facilities without fire extinguishers. It is one of the reasons why “some important” people are sent by government to South Africa.
PF though I don’t like you at all, here you have worked. Imagine a ka missionary hospital surviving on some ka grant from some donor. Mujajati just goes to close it just like that leaving patients who government has failed to take care of in a limbo
Dr Chilufya or is it Dr Kalufwanya? All what he is saying in his statement points to the following;
It is ok for quacks to operate in Zambia
It is ok to sell dispense expired drugs in Zambia
It is ok to operate a clinic or private hospital without registration
It is ok in Zambia to have medical assistants lecturing medical students at a university expecting to produce doctors
It is ok to train lab technicians at an institution which has no laboratory
It is ok for Zambians to be charged heavily for substandard health services by unqualified people
It is ok for pf cadres to sell fake and expired drugs anyhow and anywhere
Good intentions are not enough. This is a “critique of pure reason’. Politics is master science. Politics provided context for professions to thrive. The ‘mad scientist’ or ‘Frankenstein’ is useful for society but some form collaboration and cooperation is needed.
This man can annoy people. The council exists for serious reasons. They have people’s lives in their hands. Promoting substandard health facilities is condemning people to death. Just because he can afford going to SA for specialist treatment on tax payers money is not the reason to condemn people to death. He needs the very people he is condemning to death to tax for his medicals in SA when he falls sick and come back lying…
If standards were ok locally why do these f.ools fly out even for simple illnesses at tax payers expenses.
Disaster!!!!