Delta State Ministry of Health has sealed up over eight private health institutions in Asaba over alleged failure to fulfil operational requirements.

 

Of the eight, five were directed to immediately evacuate their patients to other hospitals within 24 hours before closing down their operations entirely.

 

The ministry also gave four others, seven days to regularize their status or face outright closure.

 

Dr Alfred Ebiakofa, medical personnel in the ministry and leader of the team who represented the State Commissioner for Health, explained that the exercise became imperative due to failure of the affected institutions to register and periodically regularize their practicing licenses.

 

He listed the sealed up  health institutions to include Kedes Specialist Family Clinic, Fruitful Specialist Clinic, Oosa Herbal International Limited, Ambrose Eye Clinic and Sound Scan Diagnostic Centre, while Life Value Hospital and Maternity, Siri Hospital and St Andrea Specialist Hospital  were spared for only 24 hours to enable admitted patients seek medical attention elsewhere.

 

Dr Ebiakofa stated that those that were issued warning included Life Care Specialist Clinic and Maternity and Kenet Group Medical Services.

 

He explained further that the exercise was  informed by the increasing  cases of illegal practices by some health institutions in the state, noting that some of the institutions were being operated by unqualified practitioners, while others though qualified, failed to register with the ministry.

 

While advising the health institutions issued with warning letters to report to the state Ministry of Health for up-to-date regularization of their practicing licenses, Dr Ebiakofa said that the exercise would be state-wide, stressing that the ministry was determined to rid the state of all irregularities in the health sector.