Authorities and health professional bodies are stepping up efforts to combat a surge in fake medical practitioners after revelations that criminal syndicates are producing counterfeit qualifications to infiltrate hospitals and clinics.
The Nurses Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) confirmed the scale of the crisis, saying, “A total of seven individuals were flagged for using fake practising certificates from 2024 to date.”
The NCZ further stated:
“The cases involving fraudulent nursing certificates have been met with a range of disciplinary actions commensurate with their severity.
“Some were adjudicated at Council level, resulting in the revocation of practising rights. The majority have been referred to the judiciary for further action.”
According to The Herald, hospitals are increasingly under threat, with Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals arresting 33 impostors in 2023 and a further 11 between January and April this year.
NCZ says it is tightening security, noting:
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“We are enhancing digital infrastructure to prevent the forgery of Nursing Certificates . . . and leveraging technology to improve the security and authenticity of our documents.”
Professor Johannes Marisa, president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA), warned, “In the private sector, we are seeing bogus doctors walking hospital corridors with stethoscopes.”
Victims’ families have been left devastated. In Chitungwiza, widow Eliza Tasara wept as she recalled, “We trusted him because he looked like a real doctor. By the time we realised, it was too late.”
In Kuwadzana, a 10-year-old boy was permanently disabled after a fake doctor misdiagnosed malaria and prescribed expired antibiotics.
In Hwedza, a man was crippled following a botched surgery by a former pharmacy assistant posing as a surgeon.
Despite the grim picture, authorities vow tougher measures.
NCZ said, “We are aware of the problem and are implementing stricter measures.”
