The Health Service Commission plans to introduce breathalyser tests and drug screenings for doctors and nurses in Zimbabwe. The move aims to address rising substance abuse among healthcare workers and improve patient safety. Authorities say the approach will focus on prevention, support and standardised regulations across the sector.
The Health Service Commission (HSC) is moving to introduce mandatory breathalyser tests and drug screenings for doctors and nurses as part of a new framework aimed at addressing substance abuse within the medical sector. The plan follows reports that more than 100 medical practitioners across the country are dealing with drug and alcohol-related challenges.
The proposed measures are designed to ensure that healthcare workers are in a proper state of mind when attending to patients. The initiative targets Zimbabwe’s estimated 52 000 health workers and is intended to strengthen patient safety and professional standards in the health sector.
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Speaking at a stakeholder consultative meeting held at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Tuesday, HSC Secretary Dr Christopher Pasi said the commission is shifting its approach from disciplinary action to prevention. He said the new direction is aimed at protecting trained medical personnel while addressing the root causes of substance abuse.
“The issue of, for example, substance testing or breathalysers, which occur in other industries such as complex manufacturing or mining, is an issue that we need to look at,” said Dr Pasi. He added that such measures are already common in sectors where safety is critical.
Dr Pasi said the commission is exploring how similar systems can be applied in the health sector to reduce risks. “How can we encompass that within our own regulation so that this issue of substance abuse is not only a danger to the person themselves but to the patient that is being managed?” he said.
The HSC noted that dismissing healthcare professionals due to addiction is a loss to the country, given the resources invested in training them. Dr Pasi said the focus should be on prevention and support rather than punishment alone.
“The health service, in particular the professional cadres, is an expensive workforce for us in terms of training, in terms of the time that they take and the resources,” he said. “It is better to have a preventive approach towards the management of these issues.”
He revealed that substance abuse cases are becoming more common within the sector. According to one professional council, about 10 percent of disciplinary cases are now linked to drug and alcohol abuse among healthcare workers.
The new strategy will involve collaboration between the Health Service Commission and the Health Professions Authority (HPA). A technical team will be established to standardise regulations across all eight health councils, ensuring a unified approach to managing the issue.
Key measures under consideration include training managers to identify early signs of addiction, setting up confidential peer-reporting systems, and introducing breathalyser tests and substance screenings. These steps are aimed at detecting and addressing problems before they escalate.
Dr Pasi said several factors are contributing to the rise in substance abuse among medical personnel. These include long working hours, the stress associated with patient care, and access to controlled drugs within clinical environments.
“We need all our health workforce to be of sound mind when they are managing our patients,” he said. He also noted that the commission plans to introduce gender wellness and inclusivity programmes to encourage staff to seek help early.
HPA Secretary-General Mrs Clotilda Chimbwanda welcomed the move, saying a coordinated response is needed. She said while individual councils have been handling cases separately, there is a need for a standard approach across the sector.
“We do have a challenge of drug and substance abuse that is ongoing and we commend the efforts that have been taken up by the Health Service Commission to come up with a coordinated approach,” she said. She added that reports of substance abuse have been recorded across all councils.
Mrs Chimbwanda said the aim is to standardise efforts and strengthen existing systems. “One of the key issues is to now come up with something standardised, which is what we are here for today, with the Health Service Commission facilitating,” she said.
According to the health committee of the medical and dental practitioners’ council, nearly 100 practitioners are currently under supervision across the country due to alcohol and substance abuse problems. The proposed framework is expected to address these challenges through a unified and preventive approach.
