HeFRA shuts down 17 health facilities nationwide over safety, licensing breaches

The Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has closed down 17 health facilities across Ghana for operating without valid licences or under unsafe conditions that pose serious risks to public health and patient safety.

The nationwide enforcement exercise, according to HeFRA, forms part of an ongoing inspection campaign to identify and sanction unlicensed or non-compliant medical establishments.

The move is also aimed at ensuring strict adherence to national healthcare standards and protecting patients from unqualified practitioners and unsafe environments.

Addressing a media briefing in Accra, Dr Winfred Baah, Chief Executive Officer of HeFRA, said the decision followed several warnings and administrative penalties that were ignored by the affected institutions.

“Some of these facilities have been particularly defiant. They have ignored administrative fines and failed to renew their licences. Once a facility becomes unlicensed, we cannot vouch for the competence of its staff or the safety of the equipment being used,” Dr Baah stated.

He stressed that allowing such facilities to continue operating would endanger lives, explaining that the closures were necessary to uphold the integrity of the healthcare system.

“When that happens, we must step in to protect the public. HeFRA is currently restructuring to strengthen our ability to regulate health facilities effectively,” Dr Baah said.

He further revealed that the agency’s inspection teams have been deployed across all regions to conduct surprise visits and assess compliance levels among both public and private health facilities.

The inspections cover hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, diagnostic centres, and alternative medicine practices.

According to him, some of the facilities were found operating with expired licences, unqualified personnel, and inadequate medical equipment, while others failed to meet basic infection prevention and control standards.

HeFRA has since outlined a roadmap to improve compliance, which includes intensifying public education, enhancing collaboration with professional regulatory bodies, and digitising the licensing process to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Dr Baah cautioned that the agency will continue to enforce its mandate without fear or favour, stressing that non-compliant operators risk permanent closure, prosecution, or revocation of their accreditation. “Our goal is not to shut down businesses but to ensure that every Ghanaian receives safe and quality healthcare. We encourage all operators to do the right thing and regularise their operations,” he added.