The Lagos State Assembly Speaker, Mudasiru Obasa, has announced plans to establish a regulatory body to oversee private healthcare facilities, ensuring they meet operational standards.
Obasa disclosed this during a Gala and Awards Ceremony organised by the Lagos State Branch of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP).
He stated that, “This initiative aimed to guarantee patient safety and quality care in the state, given its numerous private healthcare institutions.
“We have received complaints where the health of many people was badly managed. But we don’t want that to continue,” he said.
The Speaker expressed concern that many private hospitals failed to meet standards due to inadequate monitoring, and appealed to ANPMP to work with the House to develop laws that would improve healthcare quality.
Obasa argued that the proposed agency would not duplicate Health Facilities and Monitoring Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA’s) role, adding that HEFAMAA’s staff strength and capability could not effectively handle the identified lacuna.
The Speaker commended ANPMP for supporting the state government in providing healthcare services to its teeming residents, assuring the association of LSHA’s commitment to developing business-friendly laws.
The Chairman, ANPMP Lagos, Dr Jonathan Esegine commended the speaker for leading the House to promote laws that entrenched good governance and peace in the state.
Esegine promised that the Association would continue to work with the state government to deliver quality healthcare services to residents.
On the Awards and Gala ceremony, Esegine emphasised that the event was to celebrate the dedication and support of members throughout the year.
He said the event would recognise and honour individuals and organisations’ outstanding contributions to the healthcare sector, while fostering networking opportunities and promoting excellence in healthcare delivery.
NAN