The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has called for stronger collaboration with residents of Lagos State’s riverine communities in the ongoing fight against quackery and unregulated medical practices in the health sector.
Speaking during a sensitisation and town hall meeting held at Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, the Director of Research and Statistics, Dr Olorunfemi Olonire, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Dr Abiola Idowu, emphasised that government alone cannot effectively monitor all health facilities without the support of the people.
According to her, community participation remains key to ensuring that only qualified professionals and duly registered health facilities provide healthcare services across the state.
She urged residents to report illegal or unsafe clinics, maternity homes, and diagnostic centres to HEFAMAA for prompt intervention, saying that the agency’s monitoring efforts are most effective when residents participate actively.
Reacting to the feedback from participants at the stakeholders' event on the need for HEFAMAA to decentralise its operations, the Permanent Secretary revealed that plans for decentralisation are already being perfected by the state government and will soon be made public.
Dr Idowu noted that the Sanwo-Olu's administration, through HEFAMAA and the Ministry of Health, remains determined to protect citizens from medical malpractice and substandard services.
“Healthcare regulation cannot be left to the government alone. The people are our partners in this mission. When communities report illegal or unsafe facilities, they help protect lives and improve the integrity of the health system,” she said.
She explained that the agency has been engaging various communities to educate residents on how to recognise duly registered health facilities and verify their operational status through official HEFAMAA channels.
Idowu added that the sensitisation campaign would continue across all local government areas to strengthen public awareness and restore confidence in the state’s healthcare system.
“The ultimate goal is to bridge healthcare disparities and ensure that no one is left behind in our shared pursuit of a healthier Lagos,” she stated.
During his presentation titled “The Importance of Registration and QR Codes,” the Chief Nutrition Officer of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Mr Richard Olusanya, shed light on the agency’s establishment, regulatory role, and ongoing efforts to strengthen standards in the healthcare sector.
He explained that HEFAMAA, established in 2006, was set up by the Lagos State Government to regulate, accredit, and monitor all health facilities - including hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, and diagnostic centres - to ensure that they operate in accordance with approved professional and environmental guidelines.
Olusanya emphasised that the agency’s primary responsibility is to uphold safety and quality across all health institutions by ensuring that only certified professionals are allowed to own or manage medical facilities. He condemned the rising cases of unqualified individuals operating multiple healthcare services, describing such behaviour as a serious form of quackery that endangers lives.
“It is unacceptable for anyone without the proper qualifications to run a health facility,” he warned. “We cannot continue to see people claiming to be specialists in different medical fields at the same time. Such practices compromise patient safety and must be stopped.”
Highlighting the Agency’s regulatory measures, he disclosed that HEFAMAA conducts routine inspections twice a year to assess facilities’ compliance levels and remind operators of their approved scope of services. He noted that while clinics are meant for basic and limited care, hospitals are the only institutions authorised to provide round-the-clock medical attention.
Mr Olusanya concluded by advising facility owners to display their registration certificates conspicuously within their premises. He said visible proof of registration not only promotes transparency but also strengthens public confidence and reinforces accountability within the healthcare system.
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