Angela Onwuzoo
Lagos Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency says it has shut down over 200 health facilities in the state in the last four years for various infractions
The period, according to HEFAMAA, is from 2019 till date.
The Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, disclosed this during an exclusive interview with Reportr Door Healthwise.
Idowu said the facilities were shut down for non-compliance with regulatory standards and for various infractions including quackery, lack of qualified medical personnel, non-registration of facilities, and lack of basic equipment.
She said the Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for quackery and unethical conduct which she said could impact negatively on the health of the citizens.
She explained, “In the last four years, we have shut down over 200 health facilities. The facilities were majorly private health facilities. We have hospitals, clinics, laboratories, diagnostic centtres, and even home care services for not registering with the state.
“But it is not all health facilities that we shut down that we leave closed permanently. So, for example, we shut down facilities depending on the infractions that we meet and there are two infractions that the Agency does not overlook.
“One, you must be registered with Lagos State Government and approved to provide services to the citizens of the state. And then two, the facility must be run by qualified medical personnel. “Idowu noted that the leadership of the state ministry of health was concerned about the activities of beauty and cosmetic clinics in the state, revealing that about 20 beauty clinics were shut down last week.
“The leadership of the Ministry of Health is concerned about the spate of beauty clinics that are springing up in Lagos State and are giving services against the public interest.
“Sometimes, the services are provided by those who are not qualified to provide that service. Between last week and this week, we have shut down about 20 beautify clinics. When you are not registered with the Lagos State Government, that means you are providing services illegally, she said.
She urged the residents to patronise registered healthcare providers, whose facilities have the Agency’s Logo and Certificate of Registration, requesting that they report any suspicious healthcare facility to the Agency.
She also noted that the government will also focus more on healthcare practitioners. She said, ”For practitioners who are practicing without the requisite registration with the Agency, we are coming for you. Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for quackery and the provision of poor quality healthcare.
She advised owners and operators of health facilities in the state to carry out their operations in accordance with the set standards to actualise the vision of the present administration in improving the quality of healthcare provisions to the citizens
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