Zambia‘s Ministry of Health has raised concern over a growing wave of fabricated allegations of mistreatment by medical personnel, many of which are circulating widely across social media platforms.
The ministry says the trend is harming public confidence in the health sector and placing unfair pressure on frontline workers.
In a statement, officials reminded the public that patients are entitled to professional and dignified care, but stressed that health workers also deserve to operate without harassment or false accusations. The ministry warned that making baseless claims is unlawful and could lead to legal consequences.
According to the ministry, many public health facilities are equipped with CCTV cameras, which are reviewed when complaints are lodged to establish what actually occurred. Officials noted that these systems are meant to protect both patients and staff and to ensure cases are handled with transparency.
The ministry cautioned that sharing unverified or misleading content erodes public trust and damages the reputation of dedicated health workers. It urged Kenyans to follow established reporting procedures when raising concerns and to avoid amplifying claims that have not been confirmed.
Georgia Mutale Chimombo, the Principal Public Relations Officer, said the rise in false allegations risks discouraging health professionals from working in already strained facilities. She emphasised that accountability in the health sector must be based on verified evidence rather than social media speculation.
The warning follows a surge in online posts alleging medical negligence and abuse, several of which have later been debunked. The ministry said that safeguarding both the dignity of healthcare providers and the rights of patients requires cooperation from the public and adherence to proper reporting channels.
