Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Zambia and cooperating partners (Amref Health), has officially launched the 3rd Edition of the National Healthcare Standards (NHCS) - 2026, marking a significant milestone in strengthening healthcare regulation in Zambia.
The revised Standards, together with six newly developed subsidiary guidelines, expand the scope of regulation to emerging and evolving areas of healthcare, including Telehealth, Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM), Domiciliary Health Services, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
The Standards were officially launched today in Lusaka by the Acting Minister of Health, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, represented by the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary – Technical Services, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi. In remarks delivered at the event, the Ministry emphasised that regulation is a shared responsibility requiring collective commitment to ensure compliance, quality and patient safety across the health sector.
Speaking at the launch, HPCZ Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Mutinta Moonga – Musaila, noted that the NHCS 2026 has been shaped through extensive consultation with regulators, clinicians, educators, service providers and cooperating partners. She highlighted that the revised Standards are designed to be practical, adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of Zambia’s health system.
The revised 2026 Edition builds on the 2020 National Healthcare Standards and reflects HPCZ’s continued commitment to strengthening quality assurance mechanisms in healthcare delivery.
In the coming weeks, HPCZ will roll out a structured sensitisation and stakeholder engagement programme across its platforms to enhance understanding of the newly launched Standards and subsidiary guidelines, particularly their implications for digital health, domiciliary care, Artificial Intelligence and TCAM regulation. This will include weekly highlights of key provisions, expert insights and interactive engagements to promote clarity and compliance. Newly launched National Healthcare standards to be uploaded on this platform soon.