The Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has shut down 17 health facilities in Ghana for operating without valid licenses or under unsafe conditions that threaten public health.
This action is part of a nationwide inspection to identify and penalize facilities that lack proper authorization or documentation, according to the agency.
During a media briefing, HeFRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Winfred Baah, stated that the decision was made to protect patients and ensure that only qualified facilities deliver medical care.
“Some of these facilities have been particularly resistant. They’ve ignored administrative fines and have not renewed their licenses. Once a facility is unlicensed, we cannot guarantee the competence of its staff or the safety of the equipment used,” Dr. Baah explained.
He stressed that operating outside the regulatory framework puts lives at risk, leaving the agency no choice but to shut down non-compliant institutions.
“When that occurs, we must intervene to safeguard the public. HeFRA is currently restructuring to enhance our capacity to effectively regulate health facilities,” he added.
Dr. Baah reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to maintaining quality healthcare standards and urged all health facility operators to strictly follow licensing and operational requirements to prevent closure or legal penalties.