Eye specialist accuses Medical Council of ‘xenophobic’ campaign

**Eye specialist takes Lesotho Medical Council to court over licence renewal**

An optometrist based in Lesotho has launched a High Court challenge against the Lesotho Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Council (LMDPC), alleging that the regulatory body is employing “xenophobic” tactics to force foreign medical professionals out of practice.

Dr. Hamisi Hamidu Chuwa, the owner of Right to Sight Optometric Centre (Pty) Ltd, filed the application after the LMDPC refused to renew his certificate of retention. Dr. Chuwa, whose current licence is set to expire on September 23, 2026, argues that the refusal threatens his livelihood and the continuity of care for his patients.

In his court filings, Dr. Chuwa alleges that the LMDPC is abusing its regulatory powers and acting in bad faith to favor local practitioners at the expense of expatriates. He claims the council’s actions are part of a deliberate campaign to exclude foreign doctors from the local medical sector.

The dispute centers on the LMDPC’s rejection of Dr. Chuwa’s renewal application, which he says was submitted with the required documentation and a M2000 fee on February 27, 2026. The council informed him that the application was unsuccessful due to “invalid or incomplete documentation.” Dr. Chuwa contends that he was never given an opportunity to address these alleged deficiencies before the decision was finalized.

Furthermore, Dr. Chuwa is challenging the involvement of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) in the verification of his academic qualifications. He argues that the CHE has exceeded its statutory mandate, noting that his credentials were vetted and verified by diplomatic authorities and his university when he was first admitted to practice in Lesotho in 2006.

The optometrist also detailed a previous encounter with LMDPC officials, alleging that they “stormed” his office last year and demanded he close his practice unless he hired a Mosotho optometrist. He claims that when he requested time to consider the demand, officials returned with police officers to inspect his work permit, a matter he says was later resolved through legal counsel at Police Headquarters.

Dr. Chuwa asserts that the Ministry of Health has previously supported his work-permit renewal, citing the country’s reliance on specialized expatriate medical staff. He further claims that the LMDPC has introduced “new imaginary standards” without consulting practitioners and alleges that the council members themselves have not undergone similar qualification verification processes.

The respondents in the case include the Director General of Health Services, the LMDPC, the Council on Higher Education, and the Attorney General, Advocate Rapelang Motsieloa KC.

Dr. Chuwa is seeking a High Court order to review and set aside the LMDPC’s decision, arguing that the refusal to renew his certificate is unlawful, irrational, and lacks a basis in the Lesotho Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Order of 1970.

As of the time of reporting, the respondents had not yet filed their opposing papers.

Article and image source: sundayexpress.co.ls