Health professionals rubbish claims that couple involved in domestic violence are doctors

The Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has instituted investigations to determine whether the recently arrested couple, Majory Lulembo, and Smart Mumba of Chalala area in Lusaka are medical doctors.

HPCZ Public Relations Officer, Mwaka Namfukwe, said it had come to the attention of the Council that the media are reporting the couple who are accused of domestic violence relating to a 14-year-old, as medical doctors.

Namfukwe said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday.

She said upon verification of the HPCZ registers, it had been established that the duo were not licensed by HPCZ.

“The duo are not registered as medical doctors, therefore, they should not be classified as such,” Namfukwe said.

She said the HPCZ wanted to establish whether the duo practiced wihout a license which was contrary to Section 6 of the Health Professions Act which prohibits any person from practicing without registration.

Namfukwe added that lately, the Council had received complaints and reports of professional misconduct among some health practitioners.

She said the report included theft of medicines, negligence, violence, and sexual offences, acts that have great potential to make the public lose trust in the medical profession and healthcare systems.

“While some of these disturbing cases against health practitioners are already before the Police and Courts of Law, others are still being investigated by HPCZ,” Namfukwe said.

She said this was the reason why the conviction of a health practitioner for any offence may lead to disciplinary proceedings even if the offence was not directly connected with the health practitioner’s profession.

“Health practitioners are reminded that if found guilty, a practitioner risks cancellation of their registration and practicing certificate,” Namfukwe said.

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