The Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has closed down 17 health facilities across the country for operating with expired licences or under unsafe conditions deemed unfit for healthcare delivery.

According to the agency, the closures form part of a nationwide inspection exercise aimed at eliminating facilities operating without the necessary authorisation or proper documentation.

Addressing the media, the Chief Executive Officer of HeFRA, Dr. Winfred Baah, said the action was taken to protect public health and ensure that only qualified and compliant facilities 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 added that such lapses pose serious risks to public safety, leaving the agency with no choice but to shut down non-compliant facilities.

“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 operators to comply with licensing and regulatory requirements to avoid sanctions.