Introduction

The Health Professions Authority (HPA) of Zimbabwe is a health professions regulatory body which was established following the repealing of the Medical, Dental and Allied Professions Act (Chapter 27:08) and the disbandment of the Health Professions Council (HPC) on 30 June 2001.

The Health Professions Authority was created in terms of the provisions of Section 4 the new Health Professions Act (Chapter 27:19) which came into effect on 2^nd April 2001.  The Health Professions Authority commenced operations on 1^st July 2001.

The major responsibilities of the Health Professions Authority are the registration and control of health institutions and the regulation of services provided therein or there from; and the conducting of inspections in all health institutions throughout Zimbabwe.  The Authority is also the new coordinative and umbrella body for the seven health professional Councils which regulate health practitioners who practise their professions /callings in Zimbabwe.

Membership of the Authority

The following is the membership of the Authority stipulated in Section 6 of the Act:

• Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Welfare
• Chairperson, Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe
• Chairperson, Environmental Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe
• Chairperson, Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe
• Chairperson, Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe
• Chairperson, Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe
• Chairperson, Nurses Council of Zimbabwe
• Chairperson, Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe
• Representative of Women
• Representative of Churches
• Representative of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ)
• Representative of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zimbabwe
• Legal Practitioner nominated by the Law Society of Zimbabwe
• Representative of Disabled Persons