The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) expressed concern over medical tests, it says are being conducted on its members without informed consent.
In a statement posted on its social media platforms on December 30, 2025, the association said some drivers had reported attending highway medical camps for routine services such as blood sugar or eyesight checks, only to later discover that additional tests had been carried out without clear explanation, counselling or written consent.
“Such practices, if confirmed, are inconsistent with accepted medical ethics and patients' rights,” the association said.
LoDDCA urged drivers to ensure they were fully informed about all tests being offered before undergoing any procedure, noting that clinicians must explain the purpose of each test and obtain consent beforehand.
“Any HIV or other sensitive test requires written informed consent and appropriate counselling,” the association added.
Drivers were reminded of their right to ask questions, decline any test, or leave a facility or outreach post at any time if they felt uncomfortable.
While expressing support for medical outreach programmes, LoDDCA insisted that all health services must be delivered in a manner that respects the dignity, autonomy and human rights of drivers.
The association further called on organisations conducting medical outreach initiatives along transport corridors to carry out proper community awareness and engagement before implementation, to ensure that the mobile transport community was adequately informed and able to make independent decisions about their health.
LoDDCA also urged members who experienced or witnessed such alleged malpractices to report the incidents for appropriate action.
The statement came weeks after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced proposed changes to licence renewal requirements for older drivers. NTSA said drivers aged 60 and above would be required to renew their licences annually instead of every three years, alongside mandatory annual medical assessments.
Samuel Musumba, NTSA’s Manager for Road Safety Programs, made the announcement during an interview on Radio Generation on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
“Once you hit 60 years, you will be required to renew your license every year and not every three years,” Musumba told Radio Generation's morning show, The People's Breakfast.
“We will be asking you for a medical report. It is not about knowing what you are going through, but it will be a report just like any other.”
NTSA said the proposal formed part of its long-term road safety strategy but had not yet been submitted to Parliament. The authority noted that legislation and public participation would be required before the changes could be implemented.
Currently, all drivers renew their licences every three years regardless of age, and no mandatory medical assessments are required.
According to NTSA, the proposed reforms fall under the new driver curriculum, which places greater emphasis on the safety of ageing drivers and their passengers.
