Towards safeguarding the health of residents of the state and ensuring they enjoy qualitative health care services, the Ondo State Government has closed down eight health facilities for various offences.

It also warned seven facilities for non compliance to rules of practice and engaging in unprofessional conducts.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro while reading the riot act to violators during a monitoring exercise of the Ministry in Odigbo Local Government stated that government will not relent in its efforts in sanitising the state health sector, noting that it is prepared to deal with those who will not make meaningful contributions to development of the sector.

Adegbenro while speaking further, frowned at the unprofessional conducts of some of the hospitals visited, and noted that government will continue to ensure quackery becomes eradicated in the sector.

He noted that the action of government was not to witch hunt, victimise or send any one out of job, but to ensure that minimum standards are put in place by Healthcare providers to avoid jeopardising the lives of patients.

He enjoined those interested in the health profession to get trained at accredited institutions and be certified adding that any unlicensed facility will be closed down and perpetrators prosecuted.

He also admonished patients and their relatives to always look out for the practising license of any facility they are to patronize.

However, he warned them to be careful of putting their lives in the hands of quacks who can worsen their health situation rather than improving it.

Also speaking, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Dipo Durojaye said government was ready to provide all the needed support to flush out quackery in the sector and advised those interested in practising, to pursue their career at institutions accredited by the Government and Professional bodies.

He further warned professionals who repeatedly fail to comply with the minimum practice standard or indulging in unprofessional conducts to desist, threatening that they will have their centres sealed off .

The Director Hospital Services, Ministry of Health, Dr Richard Adesoji who led the team to most of the facilities visited, lamented the high rate of quackery in the sector.

Dr Adesoji revealed that many of the facilities visited are not registered and those registered are not renewing their licenses.

While advising those that want to open health facilities to visit the Ministry and start on the right note, he warned that the government will not rest on its oars until the state is ridden of quacks.

Facilities closed down in Odigbo includes; Phobia Medical Clinic Ore, Tommydex Specialist Medical Clinic Ore, Pima Annex Ore, Ndubisi Hospital annex Ore, Oluyemi Medical Clinic Ore, Sister White Community Clinic Ore, Kenkos medical Laboratory Ore & Model Medical Laboratory Ore.

Source: http://ondostate.gov.ng/Home/NewsItem/Why-ODSG-shuts-8-health-facilities-%E2%80%93-Adegbenro