By Joseph Mapalo Kamanga
The Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) has issued a formal statement to address recent public discourse suggesting that hospitals are inherently unsafe and that medical errors are being deliberately concealed. While the association acknowledges that medical errors occur both globally and within Zambia, they emphasize that such incidents are not the result of intentional harm or malice, but rather a consequence of complex healthcare systems.
In response to concerns, the ZMA highlighted that hospitals and clinics across the country utilize internationally recognized protocols to minimize risks, including surgical safety checklists, infection control measures, and medication monitoring systems.
Furthermore, oversight bodies such as the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ) are responsible for investigating malpractice, and healthcare workers face disciplinary action if negligence is proven.
Medical practitioners are bound by the Hippocratic Oath to act in the best interest of their patients. The ZMA notes that hospitals operate under open disclosure policies where patients are informed of adverse events, and training programs emphasize ethical responsibility and communication.
The association warned that the narrative claiming that hospitals are killing patients is misleading and dangerous. They cautioned that such fear-mongering undermines trust in the health sector and may discourage patients from seeking life-saving care for treatable conditions like malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and complications during childbirth.
The ZMA concluded by reaffirming that hospitals remain the safest environment for medical care. According to the association, when errors occur, they are documented, investigated, and used to strengthen systems and prevent recurrence, rather than to conceal harm.
© Zambia Reports |June 8, 2026