The Oyo State Government has sealed five private health facilities in Ibadan, the state capital, as part of measures towards protecting the health and well-being of residents and ridding the state of quackery.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Rotimi Babalola, and made available to newsmen on Thursday.
The healthcare facilities were sealed for non-compliance with regulatory standards and also found guilty of employing unqualified and unlicensed doctors, commonly referred to as quack doctors.
Speaking during an inspection recently at the Olodo and Moniya axis of Ibadan, the Director for Secondary Healthcare and Training, Dr Wale Falana, stated that the action became necessary after an extensive monitoring and evaluation of hospital facilities was carried out within the state.
Falana said: “The inspection revealed alarming evidence of malpractice, misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatments being administered to unsuspected patients.”
He revealed that “the five healthcare facilities sealed were found to be lacking in terms of equipment, personnel, and compliance with standard medical regulations and some of the hospitals were staffed with unqualified personnel who were practicing medicine without the required qualifications and license.”
Falana further expressed deep concern and warned hospitals not to compromise on the quality of healthcare offered to patients, stressing that the facilities would remain closed until they meet the requirements and standards set by the regulatory bodies.
“This administration underscores its commitment to ensuring that health care services in Oyo State adhere to the highest standards of quality and professionalism. The government of the day distinguished health as one of the cardinal programmes.
“Consequently, Governor Seyi Makinde takes the health of the people as essential, which is the reason behind the Omititun Free Health Mission held quarterly throughout the state,” Dr Falana explained.
He affirmed that the government would not tolerate any compromise in medical standards that could put lives at risk, noting that the action in closing the hospitals demonstrated the commitment of the government to maintaining quality healthcare delivery within the state.
Dr Falana said that the state government had urged citizens to be more cautious when seeking medical attention and reminded them to verify the qualifications and licenses of healthcare providers they visit for treatment.
He encouraged citizens to report any suspected cases of quack doctors or substandard medical practices to the Ministry of Health to enable the government take swift action and ensure that the healthcare system in Oyo State remained trustworthy, reliable, and patient-centric.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
