Congolese national arrested for operating health facility without a license

A Congolese national, Braise Mwele, has been arrested for operating a health facility without a licence and practicing as a medical doctor without being registered.

Mwele a resident of Kitwe’s Ndeke Township but whose illegal facility is located in Bulangililo area was reported to the Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) by some concerned members of the public.

HPCZ Public Relations Officer, Terry Musonda, in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, said Mwele had also been charged with holding out as a health practitioner.

Musonda said the suspect was arrested in a joint operation with the Zambia Police and is awaiting to apppear in court soon.

“During the inspection, it was discovered that Mwele had been attending to patients and administering medications without registration and a practicing certificate from HPCZ,” he stated.

Musonda added that Mwele claimed to have been trained as a medical doctor in his country of origin but admitted to not being registered as a health practitioner by HPCZ.

He stated at the time of the inspection, several patients who were found at his facility testified that they had known him as a medical doctor for some years.

“HPCZ has applauded the public in Kitwe for information leading to the warn and caution of a 38-year-old Congolese male on the Copperbelt Province for operating an illegal facility and holding out as a health practitioner,” Musonda had said.

He stated that HPCZ had also continued with the 2024 compliance monitoring Inspections of health facilities, health practitioners, internship sites and nonconventional health services in various parts of the country under Phase I.

He encouraged members of the public to continue verifying the status of health facility and health practitioner who may be attending to them and to report any suspicious to the Council.

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