The Ondo State Government has directed all private health facilities in the state to register or face sanctions.
The Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola, gave the directive during a meeting with private health practitioners on Thursday in Akure.
Ikuomola, who asked the private health facilities to register with the state’s Department of Hospital Services, added that the move was to eradicate quackery and enhance sanity in the private practice.
The permanent secretary reiterated the ministry’s readiness to enforce the rules and moderate activities of private health practitioners to ensure compliance.
He emphasised that the action was mainly to engender a sane health system, and to render quality services to the people of the state.
He explained that “we want to rely on you to help us regulate the system and collaborate with government to ensure a healthy society and to achieve Universal Health Coverage in our state.
“We are partners in progress, government cannot do it alone, we need you to give us advice that will help us build the system for the benefit of all.”
Ikuomola warned that the state would not condone training of nurses by private hospitals, saying that anyone caught violating the rule would face the full wrath of the law.
He, therefore, requested the private health practitioners to provide the ministry with their details.
Responding, Dr Saliu Oyelami, the Chairman, Association of Private Health Practitioners in Ondo State, said there were no objections to the government’s decision, as it would help to sanitise private practice in the state.
Oyelami told the permanent secretary that “members of the association are fully licenced and registered,” and urged the government to bring back the College of Nursing, Akure, for easy access to qualified nurses.(NAN)