North-West Moves To Shut Substandard Private Health Institutions

The North-West Health Commissioners’ Forum has ordered the closure of private health institutions operating below approved standards across the seven states in the region.

The forum also warned regulatory officials who approve institutions without proper inspection that they could face sanctions.

Chairman of the forum and Jigawa State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abdullahi Muhammad Kainuwa, disclosed this at a task force meeting with provosts and heads of private health institutions in Dutse.

Kainuwa said the move followed concerns over institutions operating without permanent facilities, qualified personnel, laboratories and other basic requirements needed to train competent health professionals.

He said a regional task force had been constituted to inspect private health institutions across the North-West and enforce compliance with established standards.

“Any school that does not meet the standard, we have given the committee the mandate to close the school,” Kainuwa said.

He explained that the government recognised the role of private institutions in producing health professionals, particularly as public institutions could not accommodate the growing number of students seeking admission.

However, he insisted that private institutions must provide the required facilities and employ qualified personnel before they could be allowed to operate.
Kainuwa also warned regulatory agencies against issuing approvals without physically inspecting institutions and verifying their facilities, staff and other requirements.

He said officials found to have approved institutions without following due process would be identified and held accountable.

The commissioner stressed that the exercise was not intended to frustrate genuine private institutions but to protect students and ensure that health professionals trained in the region acquire the knowledge and practical skills required to provide quality healthcare.

“We are not against private institutions. What we are saying is that you must meet the standard. You must have the facilities, you must have the qualified personnel and you must comply with the regulations,” he said.

The North-West Health Commissioners said the enforcement drive would help protect theh quality of the region’s health workforce and prevent poorly trained professionals from entering the healthcare system.