LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Edo State health authorities have shut down a Benin hospital that operated for more than 10 years without statutory registration, citing serious patient-safety concerns.
During an inspection, the Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA), uncovered the facility that was neither registered with the Edo State Ministry of Health nor the agency.
EDOHERMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, said the unregistered hospital was discovered during a monitoring exercise at an orphanage housed in the same building.
During the visit, Urhoghide-Edigin reportedly spoke with the hospital owner, who confirmed that the facility was not registered with the state government.
The owner reportedly cited membership of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners as his affiliation.
However, Urhoghide-Edigin clarified that membership of the association does not replace statutory registration or authorize anyone to operate a healthcare facility in Edo State.
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She consequently directed the agency’s Medical Services Department to carry out a full inspection of the hospital.
The inspection, led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Peter Evbuomwan, uncovered several concerns, including poor infection prevention practices and deteriorating equipment.
Inspectors found cobwebs on ceilings and walls, rusted ward equipment and badly damaged mattresses. They also found no evidence of regular fumigation or pest control.
“The inspection also revealed poor infection prevention and control practices, cobwebs on ceilings and walls, rusted and deteriorated ward equipment, badly damaged mattresses and a lack of evidence of routine fumigation or pest control,” the agency said.
The facility was further found to have no valid fire extinguisher, emergency preparedness plan or established referral system.
EDOHERMA added that the absence of basic emergency and safety measures raised serious concerns about patients wellbeing.
The hospital operator reportedly told inspectors that health challenges had prevented him from completing the registration process.
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However, the agency said the facility was still expected to meet all legal requirements while operating.
EDOHERMA has now ordered the hospital to stop all medical services immediately. It also gave the facility two weeks to begin the registration process and address the identified infrastructural, environmental, equipment and health-standard deficiencies.
The agency stated that a follow-up inspection would determine whether the hospital had complied.
It stressed that the facility would not be permitted to resume operations until it meets the required regulatory standards.
Urhoghide-Edigin stressed that protecting patients remained the agency’s top priority, warning that healthcare providers would not be allowed to disregard established health, sanitation and operational standards.
EDOHERMA also reminded private hospital and clinic operators in Edo State that ANPMP membership does not amount to government approval.
The agency maintained that statutory registration is mandatory to ensure healthcare facilities operate in suitable environments, provide services within approved scopes and employ appropriately qualified personnel.
