Clandestine clinic shut down in southern Mozambique, hospital worker detained

Mozambican police have dismantled a clandestine clinic in Inhambane province in southern Mozambique and detained an employee of the provincial hospital, the owner of the site where the clinic operated, a corporate source told Lusa on Tuesday.

“He was arrested yesterday. [segunda-feira] “An agent of the service assigned to the Inhambane provincial hospital and an underground clinic were dismantled,” said Alceres Cuamba, head of public relations, communications and image for the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) in the province.

Police seized a “massive quantity” of drugs and surgical materials from the 52-year-old employee’s home that they suspect were leaking from the NHS, the official said.

According to Sernik, the underground clinic provided various consultations, treatments and even hospitalizations to patients, and the drugs used to treat patients were allegedly diverted from the Inhambane Provincial Hospital.

“We have some receipts showing that he purchased drugs from the Inhambane Provincial Hospital and that is why we said it was a drug theft scheme,” Alceres Cuamba said.

The official said an investigation was underway to arrest more people involved in the case.

Last week, Sernic announced an investigation into the theft of IT materials and pharmaceuticals worth one million meticais (14,000 euros), including from the Inhambane Provincial Hospital, involving employees.

“We confirm the arrest of a medical agent who has worked for seven years and was assigned to the Inhambane Provincial Hospital. The process is still under investigation (…) we understand that in the coming days more arrests may be made in connection with this case,” he told Luca Alceres Cuamba at the time.

The two cases come at a time when Mozambique’s National Health System is facing several moments of pressure caused by staff strikes warning of shortages of materials and chaotic conditions.