African health regulators urged to intensify fight against fraudulent practitioners

Written by; Regina Bless

Health professional regulatory authorities across Africa have been urged to strengthen collaboration and information sharing to tackle fraudulent practitioners and protect patients from unsafe healthcare practices.

The call comes amid growing concerns over false qualifications, fake professional licences, impersonation, fraudulent practices, unlawful conduct, questionable continuing professional development certificates and misleading health claims.

Addressing health regulators, the speaker stressed that the presence of a fraudulent practitioner in a consulting room puts every patient at risk, making the fight against professional fraud a continental responsibility.

According to the speaker, no country should become a safe haven for a healthcare professional who has been sanctioned in another jurisdiction.

The speaker therefore called for secure, lawful and timely exchange of verified information among African regulatory authorities, describing it as an essential tool for protecting patients and strengthening public confidence in healthcare systems.

The regulators were urged to focus on seven key priorities during their meeting.

The first is regulatory harmonisation, through stronger cooperation, reliable verification systems and appropriate recognition of professional qualifications without compromising standards.

The second priority is investment in regulatory science, ensuring that regulatory decisions are evidence-based and that authorities are equipped to respond to emerging technologies, changing workforce trends and new risks.

The third is the development of secure data exchange systems that allow regulators to share information promptly while protecting privacy and ensuring proper data governance.

The fourth priority is safeguarding the integrity of health professional education. The speaker emphasised that the quality of future healthcare depends heavily on the quality of training provided today, making accreditation, examinations, internships, continuing professional development and ethical training critical.

Regulators were also encouraged to develop practical frameworks for humanitarian and fragile settings, allowing healthcare professionals to respond rapidly to emergencies while maintaining professional standards and accountability.

The sixth priority is the regulation of digital health and artificial intelligence, which the speaker said must be approached with urgency, wisdom and a strong commitment to equity.

Finally, regulators were urged to place patients and the public at the centre of every regulatory decision.

“The true measure of a regulator is not how many licences it issues, but how effectively it protects the people and the patients,” the speaker stated.

The call highlights the growing need for African countries to work together to strengthen professional regulation, prevent cross-border fraud and ensure that patients receive safe, ethical and quality healthcare regardless of where they seek treatment on the continent.