The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has ordered the immediate closure of Jess Royal Hospital in Benin after discovering that the facility had operated for more than 10 years without statutory registration.
The agency said the hospital was neither registered with the Edo State Ministry of Health nor currently registered with EDOHERMA.
The discovery was made during a monitoring exercise at an orphanage located in the same building as the hospital.
EDOHERMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, said she engaged the hospital owner during the visit and was informed that the facility was not registered with the state government.
The owner reportedly told the agency that he was a member of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP).
Urhoghide-Edigin clarified that ANPMP membership does not amount to statutory registration and does not authorise anyone to operate a healthcare facility in Edo State.
She subsequently directed the agency’s Medical Services Department to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the hospital.
The follow-up inspection, led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Peter Evbuomwan, identified several deficiencies in the facility.
The operator told the inspection team that health challenges had prevented him from completing the registration process.
EDOHERMA, however, said the facility was expected to meet all statutory requirements for continued operation since it had remained in service.
The agency said the inspection also revealed poor infection prevention and control practices, cobwebs on ceilings and walls, rusted and deteriorated ward equipment, badly damaged mattresses and a lack of evidence of routine fumigation or pest control.
The hospital was also found to have no valid and serviceable fire extinguisher, emergency preparedness plan or established referral system.
EDOHERMA said the deficiencies raised serious concerns about patient safety and the facility’s ability to respond appropriately to emergencies.
The agency consequently directed the hospital to stop all medical operations immediately.
It gave the facility two weeks to begin the official EDOHERMA registration process and correct the identified infrastructural, environmental, equipment and health-standard deficiencies.
The agency said it would conduct a follow-up inspection to determine the level of compliance.
It added that Jess Royal Hospital would not be allowed to resume healthcare operations until it satisfactorily met the applicable regulatory requirements.
Urhoghide-Edigin said patient safety remained the agency’s overriding priority, stressing that no healthcare facility would be allowed to compromise established health, sanitary and operational standards in the state.
EDOHERMA also reminded owners and operators of private hospitals and clinics in Edo that ANPMP membership does not constitute government approval or authorisation to operate.
The agency said statutory registration with EDOHERMA was mandatory to ensure that healthcare services were provided in appropriate environments, within approved scopes of practice and by suitably qualified personnel.