Oyo state government has closed four health facilities in Ibadan, the state capital, over quackery charges, saying that it has zero tolerance to any form of medical quackery across the state.
The Nigerian Tribune reports that the facilities were closed for non-registration to practice, practicing beyond their scope and running medical laboratories by students of laboratory science.
Director of Secondary Health Care and Training, Dr Wale Falana, speaking after the closure of the health facilities, said the closure was in response to complaints and petitions received on malpractices and astronomic billing of patients, despite not providing commensurate treatment.
Dr Falana said Nigerians visiting private hospitals must always ensure such facilities bear a current license of practice by the health authority in the state, adding that if in doubt, patients should patronise government hospital.
According to him, health is one of the cardinal points of Governor Seyi Makinde’s government, as it provides free medical services quarterly across the state to ensure increased access to quality care.
“We expect all private health facilities to have their license to practice in conspicuous places, so that people will know those that are renewed till date. As long as a facility is not registered or renewed to practice for that year, it is presumed a quack.
“There were complaints reaching the ministry on some of the facilities that were closed. There was a complaint that one of the facilities collected N4 million for fibroid surgery that was not done. Another was a diabetic client’s limb that got amputated because of poor care.
“As the controlling authority on private health facilities in the state, we periodically monitor these facilities to see what they are doing.
“It is to sanitise the health system. Oyo State government has zero tolerance for quackery, we advise those not ready to register or leave the state,” he said.
