Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Samuel Alli, has reiterated that on no account should any healthcare practitioner operate in the state without the approval of the Ministry of Health.
Dr Alli made this statement while briefing the press on healthcare regulation at the Ministry of Health in Benin City.
He said on the resumption of the office as commissioner, part of his charge was to regulate the medical practice in Edo State, and this includes registration of all providers of healthcare and ensuring adherence to acceptable medical standards.
He noted that the scope covers hospitals, clinics and medical centres, community pharmacies and patent medicine stores, dental hospitals, eye hospitals/centres and clinics, and others include physiotherapy centres, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, medical laboratories, maternities, mortuaries, funeral homes, embalment centres and traditional and alternative medicine practitioners.
The commissioner further said the war against quackery is also work in progress that is yielding positive results, as 108 medical centres have been sealed, and out of which 33 were medical laboratories, 10 hospitals, 11 nursing homes, 26 community pharmacies and 28 patent medicine stores.
The commissioner gave reasons for which the facilities were sealed to include unregistered facilities, pointing out that it was disheartening to note that many medical facilities operate freely in the state without approval or the requisite licence for them to operate.
He also said unsafe practices were found, which constituted danger to the people – unsafe practices like unsafe abortions, use of expired medicines, improper waste disposal, unclean and improper environment and ill-equipped theatres will no longer be tolerated.
He pointed out that the ministry had to close down a number of facilities practicing beyond their scoop after warning, adding that those guilty include pharmacies, medical laboratories and nursing homes who with impunity deviate from their areas of practice.
He subsequently noted that the use of unqualified personnel is very rampant in the state as most of the health facilities engage unqualified personnel, saying no qualified doctor is licensed to train nurses, as those interested in training nurses should seek the approval of relevant authorities to open a nursing school.
He therefore urged the people to do the proper thing as the health of the people is paramount, adding that while trying to save cost and improve revenue, we must collectively ensure that we can guarantee optimal healthcare quality for the people.
He also urged them to cooperate with the state government in improving the delivery of quality healthcare to the people.
