HPCZ Registration: We know that most people searching for HPCZ are trying to do one of a few specific things – register as a health practitioner, verify whether a specialist or facility is legitimately licensed, check internship site approval, or understand Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements. This guide covers all of these directly, plus the Council’s current 2026 publications and recent enforcement actions worth knowing about.
About the Health Professions Council of Zambia
The Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) is a statutory regulatory body established under the Health Professions Act No. 17 of 2024. HPCZ registers health practitioners (with the notable exception of nurses, who fall under a separate regulatory body), oversees their professional conduct, licenses and regulates health facilities, accredits healthcare services within those facilities, and approves training programmes for health practitioners. In short, HPCZ is the gatekeeper ensuring that anyone practicing medicine or operating a health facility in Zambia — outside the nursing profession specifically — meets defined standards of competence, conduct, and safety.
2026 Publication: Registered and Licensed Specialists, Internship Sites, CPD Providers and Health Facilities
Pursuant to the Health Professions Act No. 17 of 2024, HPCZ has published its official 2026 lists covering:
- Health Facility Listing – all licensed and accredited health facilities for 2026
- Active Specialists – registered and licensed specialists as of February 2026
- Approved CPD Providers – Continuous Professional Development providers approved as of 23 March 2026
- Approved Internship Sites – internship sites approved as of 23 March 2026
HPCZ explicitly encourages members of the public and stakeholders to verify the registration and licensing status of specialists, internship sites, CPD providers, and health facilities before accessing healthcare services. The Council notes these lists are compiled based on records available at the time of publication, and any omissions or inaccuracies identified will be reviewed and corrected. This verification step is genuinely important practicing without registration, or receiving care from an unlicensed facility, carries real risk, as recent enforcement actions demonstrate.
Recent Enforcement Actions Worth Knowing About
HPCZ has been active in 2026 in publicly disclosing regulatory action, reflecting its consumer-protection mandate:
- Sanket Sunsol Imaging Services Suspension – pursuant to Section 49 of the Health Professions Act No. 17 of 2024, HPCZ ordered the immediate suspension of Medical Imaging Services offered by Sanket Sunsol Imaging Services Limited (Kitwe, Copperbelt Province), following a clinical audit conducted on 3 June 2026 that identified significant deficiencies in quality, safety, governance, and regulatory compliance.
- Illegal Practice and Forgery Conviction – a Clinical Officer General formerly stationed at Musenga Mini Hospital in Kasama District was convicted by the Kasama Subordinate Court for practicing without HPCZ registration, along with forgery, uttering false documents, and obtaining pecuniary advantage, receiving an 18-month prison sentence with hard labour on all charges.
These cases underscore why HPCZ actively promotes verification of registration status before the public accesses care, unregistered practice carries genuine legal and patient-safety consequences.
How to Verify a Practitioner, Facility, or CPD Provider
- Visit the official HPCZ website at hpcz.org.zm.
- Locate the relevant published list on the homepage (Health Facility Listing, Active Specialists, Approved CPD Providers, or Approved Internship Sites).
- Open the specific PDF document and search for the practitioner, facility, or provider name in question.
- If the name doesn’t appear, or details don’t match what’s been presented to you, treat this as a red flag and report it to HPCZ directly rather than proceeding.
How to Register as a Health Practitioner
HPCZ’s registration function covers health practitioners across most cadres (excluding nurses, regulated separately). While specific requirements vary by profession and cadre, the general registration pathway involves:
- Completing an accredited training programme approved by HPCZ.
- Completing an internship at an HPCZ-approved internship site, checking the current approved list is essential, since training at a non-approved site may affect your eligibility for subsequent registration.
- Submitting your application for registration through HPCZ’s official process, along with required academic and training documentation.
- Paying the applicable registration fee, as set out in HPCZ’s Approved Fees 2026 schedule.
- Once registered, maintaining your registration through ongoing compliance, including Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
Student (Indexing) Registration
For students entering health training programmes, HPCZ operates a Student Index Registration system, accessible through the Online Student Index Application on the HPCZ portal (portal.hpcz.org.zm). This indexing process is a foundational step for students in HPCZ-regulated training programmes, tracking their progress toward eventual full registration as practitioners.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD): More Than Just Points
HPCZ has been explicit in recent public messaging that “CPD is more than just points” – framing Continuous Professional Development as a genuine mechanism for strengthening Zambia’s healthcare system by ensuring practitioners continuously develop their knowledge, skills, and professional competence throughout their careers, rather than treating it as a simple compliance checkbox. HPCZ has run public engagement sessions (including “HPCZ Live” discussions with sector specialists) specifically to reinforce this point and educate practitioners and CPD providers on expectations.
To find a legitimate CPD provider, cross-check against the Approved CPD Providers list (current as of 23 March 2026) published directly on the HPCZ website, rather than assuming any training programme marketed as “CPD-accredited” is genuinely recognized by the Council.
Health Facility Licensing and Health Services Accreditation
Beyond individual practitioner registration, HPCZ licenses and regulates health facilities and accredits the healthcare services delivered within them. Facilities seeking licensing or accreditation should:
- Review HPCZ’s specific fee schedule for Health Facilities Licensing and Health Services Accreditation, published directly on the HPCZ website.
- Ensure compliance with the National Healthcare Standards (NHCS) 2026 and any relevant subsidiary guidelines, HPCZ has run public sensitization on these standards, including specific guidance on newer care models like Domiciliary Health Services (home-based care).
- Undergo HPCZ inspection/clinical audit as part of the licensing and ongoing compliance process — as demonstrated by the Sanket Sunsol case above, HPCZ actively conducts these audits and takes enforcement action where deficiencies are found.
Key Resources on the HPCZ Website
| Resource | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Approved Fees 2026 | Current registration, licensing, and accreditation fee schedule |
| Bank Details | Official payment account information for fees |
| Strategic Plan | HPCZ’s institutional strategic direction |
| Downloads / Publications | Guidelines, standards documents, and regulatory notices |
| Press Release | Official HPCZ public statements and enforcement notices |
| Online Student Index Application | Portal for student indexing registration |
| HPCZ Portal (portal.hpcz.org.zm) | Main practitioner/facility registration and account portal |
Guidance Documents Worth Reviewing
HPCZ has published specific guidance on several current healthcare delivery topics, including domiciliary (home-based) health services, artificial intelligence use in healthcare settings, traditional and complementary/alternative medicine (TCAM), telemedicine, and the National Healthcare Standards (NHCS) 2026, all downloadable directly from the HPCZ website. These are worth reviewing directly if you’re a practitioner or facility operator navigating newer or less traditional care delivery models, since compliance expectations for these areas are evolving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HPCZ register nurses? No. HPCZ registers health practitioners with the specific exception of nurses, who are regulated by a separate body.
How can I check if a specialist or health facility is legitimately registered? Cross-check the name against HPCZ’s published 2026 lists (Active Specialists, Health Facility Listing) available as downloadable PDFs directly on hpcz.org.zm.
What happens if a practitioner is found practicing without HPCZ registration? Consequences can include criminal conviction, as demonstrated by a recent case resulting in an 18-month prison sentence for practicing without registration alongside forgery-related offences.
What is the Online Student Index Application? A portal (accessible via portal.hpcz.org.zm) for students in HPCZ-regulated training programmes to register their index status, a foundational step toward eventual full practitioner registration.
Where can I find HPCZ’s current fees? The “Approved Fees 2026” document and the specific “Fees – Health Facilities Licensing And Health Services Accreditation” document, both published directly on hpcz.org.zm.
Is CPD mandatory for registered practitioners? Yes, and HPCZ has emphasized it should be treated as substantive ongoing professional development rather than a simple points-based formality. Verify your CPD provider against HPCZ’s Approved CPD Providers list.
How do I report a suspected illegal or unregistered health practice? Contact HPCZ directly through its official channels (info@hpcz.org.zm or its published contact details) rather than through unofficial or third-party channels.