The Anambra State Government says it will close down substandard hospitals in the state.
The State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, disclosed this on Friday during a workshop organised by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria held in Awka, the state capital.
Anambra State has a total of 1,069 private hospitals registered with the state ministry of health by 2013 record.
Obiano who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, said for this reason, the state had begun recertification of private hospitals in the state.
He said this was to ensure that those practising medicine in the state were qualified and in tune with the regulations.
The governor asked the doctors to ensure that they were properly registered with the Nigerian Medical Association and the state ministry of health.
“We won’t ask you to show us your qualifying certificates. The only way we would know you are a doctor is when we ask the NMA and your name is on their list, otherwise we shall label you a quack.
The governor asked the doctors to see medical practice beyond one-man business.
“The era of one-room hospital should be over. Build your hospitals in flats and bring business experts to manage them for you. That is the only way your hospital can survive you,” the governor counselled.
He said arrangement had been completed to commence a health insurance scheme for the state, adding that this was necessary to assist those who could not afford medicare for themselves to have it.
Obiano regretted that most people would not budget for their health and that of their families, noting that this had contributed to most unnatural deaths in society.
The governor added that the bill for the state health insurance scheme had been sent to the State House of Assembly.
The theme of the workshop is, ‘Horrifying faces of infertility and challenges to the authentic family life’. (Thisday)
