By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to embark on operation show your license/certificate of registration by health facilities inorder to prevent unwholesome practices in the state.

Recall that the state government through, the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, recently, shut a health facility, Vedic Lifecare Hospital, located at Plot 6, Olabanji Olajide Street, Lekki area of the state following discovery of illegal operation being perpetrated by the management of the health facility.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Abiola Idowu, who disclosed the clampdown exercise on Thursday, said that the state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, gave the directive to the agency to verify the licenses of both public and private health facilities in the state.

Idowu, explained that based on the directive, the agency has slated Monday, November 8, 2021 as the commencement date of enforcement.

She, therefore, warned that all health facilities in the state, both public and private should present the licenses of all health care workers and their certificate of registration to the agency’s monitoring staff for verification or risk sanctions.

Idowu, warned that the agency would not accept a situation where health facilities operate in the state without proof of registration or licenses for their healthcare workers, with the agency maintaining that such action is contrary to the provisions of the 2006 Health Sector Reform Law.

She affirmed that the agency will strive to ensure that facilities across the state operate within the confines of the law as well as deliver quality health care to residents.

“On the directive of the Commissioner for Health, Professor Abayomi, from Monday, our monitoring staff will visit public and private health facilities in the State to, amongst the routine responsibilities of mamathe Agency verify their licenses to ascertain they are operating legally,” she explained.

Idowu, added that all existing healthcare facilities in the state are required by law to renew their registration annually adding that it is mandatory for new facilities to register with the agency before commencing operations to safeguard the health of the citizenry.

HEFAMAA Board Chairman, Dr. Yemisi Solanke Koya explained that the initiative is not a witch-hunting exercise, “rather it is in furtherance of our public protection mandate, HEFAMAA through the verification exercise seeks to ensure that the health facilities in Lagos State are strictly complying with the law,” she explained.