The Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has shut down 17 health facilities nationwide for operating with expired licences or under unsafe conditions deemed unfit for healthcare delivery.
The agency explained that the closures are part of a broader nationwide inspection exercise aimed at eliminating health facilities that operate without proper authorisation or valid documentation, as well as those with expired licences.
Speaking at a media briefing, HeFRA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Winfred Baah, said the move was necessary to protect public health and ensure that only qualified and compliant institutions operate within Ghana’s healthcare system.
“A few of the facilities have been very recalcitrant. They have not paid their administrative fines and have also failed to take steps to renew their licences.
Once a facility is unlicensed, we cannot be certain about the competence of the personnel or the safety of the equipment used to provide care to patients,” Dr. Baah explained.
He noted that such lapses pose serious risks to public safety, leaving the agency with no alternative but to shut down non-compliant operators.
“When that happens, we must intervene and close them down. HeFRA is undergoing a reset to better position ourselves to fulfil our mandate of regulating health facilities effectively,” he said.
Dr. Baah reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining high standards in healthcare delivery and urged all facility operators to comply with licensing and regulatory requirements to avoid sanctions.
