Over 200 health facilities risk closure as HeFRA begins crackdown in Ashanti Region

A major enforcement operation is underway in the Ashanti Region as the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HEFRA) embarks on a large-scale crackdown on unlicensed and non-compliant health facilities.

The exercise, which began this morning, targets more than 200 clinics, laboratories, maternity homes, and other healthcare centres operating without proper authorisation from the regulatory agency.

According to HEFRA officials, the move forms part of a nationwide effort to ensure all health facilities meet the required operational standards and regulatory obligations.

Speaking to JoyNews, HeFRA’s Public Relations Officer, Christabel Ayiram, described the crackdown as a necessary step to protect public health and restore order in the sector.

“Both today and tomorrow, we are locking down facilities that are unlicensed. So any facility that is unlicensed by HEFRA, we are coming after you,” she said.

She explained that HeFRA is offering a short window of opportunity for operators to regularise their activities, urging those affected to report to the agency’s office in Kumasi for immediate assistance.

“We are advising those who are unlicensed that they should come to the HEFRA office. We are at Adum, opposite Opoku Trading. And then there’s a team on standby. Once you meet all the requirements, they’ll do an inspection,” Ms. Ayiram stated.

She added that because the operation is a special exercise, a dedicated inspection team has been set up to fast-track the licensing process.

“Because it’s a special exercise, we have a team on standby that will do the inspection for you. And once we do the inspection for you, and you meet our requirements, your facility will be open to the public. That is the only thing that will save anybody. Aside that, it is no license, no operations for our facility,” she added.

According to her, the agency’s data shows that over 200 health facilities in the Ashanti Region are currently unlicensed—all of which will face closure if they fail to comply.

“For the Ashanti region, the facilities that are not licensed—there are more than 200. And we’ll close all of them down. All of them. We are not even sparing one. So once you are not licensed, we are coming after you. So just come and get your license with HEFRA,” she warned.

Ms. Ayiram expressed concern about the rising number of unqualified dental operators, many of whom she said are practising without any professional training.

“Especially the dental facilities. Even though they don’t call themselves a clinic. Most of the people who practice in those facilities are not even like practitioners. I don’t even know how they… I think some of them claim they learnt on their job. Some of them claim their mothers taught them, their fathers taught them. And, I mean, these are people’s health. You don’t do that with people’s health,” she said.

She maintained that although HeFRA’s core mandate is regulation, the agency will not hesitate to take firm action against facilities that compromise public safety.

“So we are coming after all of them. So they should just come to HEFRA and do the right thing. We are regulators. We don’t take pleasure in locking down facilities. But where you are wrong, because it has to do with people’s health, we will take you on,” Ms. Ayiram emphasised.

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