The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has sealed several private hospitals and medical laboratories across the state for failing to renew their annual operational registrations and violating established healthcare regulations.
The enforcement and monitoring exercise was led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, alongside officials of the Ministry of Health, as part of the Soludo administration’s commitment to ensuring that both public and private healthcare facilities comply with regulatory standards and provide safe, quality healthcare services.
During the inspection, the team discovered that several hospitals and laboratories were operating without valid annual registrations, while others failed to meet the minimum environmental and operational standards required by law.
Inspectors also found that some healthcare personnel were practicing without valid licences issued by the appropriate regulatory bodies.
Among the facilities sealed were Divine Hospital and Maternity, Awka, for failing to provide evidence of annual registration renewal; Iykenson Medical Diagnostics Co. Ltd, where inspectors observed poor environmental sanitation, expired facility registration and expired practising licences; Obuekwe Dental Clinic, Awka, which could not provide evidence of registration renewal; Balm Specialist Medical Laboratory, Awka; and Sticon Medical Laboratory, Awka, which was sealed for non-renewal of registration and operating in an environment that fell below acceptable hygiene standards.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Chukwulobelu said the enforcement was not intended to punish healthcare providers but to safeguard the health and lives of Anambra residents by ensuring that all healthcare facilities operate in line with approved standards.
He stressed that annual registration remains a mandatory requirement for every private healthcare facility and warned that the state government would not tolerate illegal operations or practices capable of endangering patients’ lives.
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The Director also commended healthcare facility owners and practitioners who have consistently complied with regulatory requirements, praising them for maintaining professional standards and encouraging them to sustain the culture of compliance.
Dr. Chukwulobelu further urged owners of hospitals, laboratories and other healthcare establishments to renew their registrations promptly, maintain clean environments and ensure that only duly qualified and licensed professionals provide healthcare services.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustained monitoring and enforcement aimed at improving the quality, safety and standard of healthcare delivery across Anambra State.
The enforcement exercise also uncovered alarming cases of unqualified personnel providing healthcare services.
Angel Network News (ANN) gathered that some facilities were operating with health workers who lacked valid practising licences, while at one diagnostic centre, a sonographer conducting ultrasound examinations was found to be a student without a degree or any recognised professional qualification.
