Delta Shuts Down 18 Private Hospitals, Fines N5m

The Delta State Government has sealed 18 private healthcare establishments in the State. 

Dr Joseph Onojaeme, Delta State's Commissioner of Health,  who disclosed this revealed, warned that no individual or business had the authority to run a private healthcare facility unless the facility had been properly registered by the ministry by the guidelines outlined in the Private Healthcare Facilities Law of May 2019. 
Dr. Onojaeme said that the sealed facilities did not comply with the law in terms of operations and registration. 

Represented by Dr Mathew Anibor, Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training,
Dr. Onojaeme said that the sealed facilities fell short of the law, as it concerns registration and operations of private healthcare facilities in the state. 

He said, “This exercise is ongoing, as more unscheduled visits would be made to other registered facilities to ascertain their status concerning annual renewal fees. 

“Yesterday, we were in Ughelli and today we are working in Warri and its environs and intend to move to Sapele, Oghara, Agbor, and Asaba among other major towns in the state, not excluding the rural areas.” 

“The premises were sealed as a result of the facilities not being registered to operate as private healthcare facilities by the ministry, default in payment of annual renewal fees, as well as those facilities employing and training auxiliary nurses, among other offenses.” 

“We want to use this medium to advise private healthcare facilities operating in the state to do the needful by registering their facilities with the Ministry of Health and also urged residents to report any facilities which they suspect are involved in unwholesome practices.” 

The commissioner said penalties for these offenses include terms of imprisonment for not less than six months, but not exceeding one year, or a payment of a fine up to N5 million