A private hospital in Benin City, Edo State, has been ordered to stop operating after authorities discovered that it had allegedly provided healthcare services for more than 10 years without obtaining the required statutory approval.
The Jess Royal Hospital was closed by the Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency following an inspection that uncovered several concerns about its operations and facilities.
The state government announced the development on Saturday through a statement posted on Facebook.
According to the government, checks showed that the hospital was not registered with either the Edo State Ministry of Health or EDOHERMA.
Officials reportedly stumbled on the facility while carrying out a monitoring exercise at an orphanage located within the same building.
During the visit, the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, questioned the hospital operator about its regulatory status.
The owner reportedly acknowledged that the facility had not been registered with the state authorities but explained that he belonged to the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners.
Urhoghide-Edigin rejected the explanation, stressing that belonging to a professional association does not grant permission to run a medical facility.
“ANPMP membership does not amount to statutory registration and does not authorise anyone to operate a healthcare facility in Edo State,” she said.
The agency subsequently ordered a comprehensive inspection, which was conducted by its Medical Services Department under the leadership of Dr Peter Evbuomwan.
The inspection team reportedly found a number of shortcomings, including inadequate infection-control measures and poor general maintenance.
Among the issues identified were cobwebs around the premises, rusty and worn-out hospital equipment, severely damaged mattresses and a lack of evidence showing that the facility was regularly fumigated or treated for pests.
The hospital was also reportedly without a functional fire extinguisher and lacked a documented emergency preparedness plan and a proper system for referring patients who required specialised treatment.
EDOHERMA said the conditions discovered during the inspection posed concerns for patients and raised doubts about the facility’s readiness to respond to emergencies.
The hospital operator reportedly told the inspectors that health challenges had contributed to his failure to complete the registration process.
The agency, however, maintained that medical facilities must fulfil the relevant legal and regulatory conditions before they are permitted to continue treating patients.
As a result, all medical activities at Jess Royal Hospital were ordered to stop immediately.
EDOHERMA gave the hospital a two-week deadline to begin its formal registration and correct the deficiencies identified during the inspection.
The agency said another inspection would be conducted after the deadline to determine whether the hospital had complied with the directives.
It added that the facility would remain closed until it successfully met the required standards.
Urhoghide-Edigin reiterated that protecting patients was the agency’s primary concern.
“Patient safety remains the agency’s overriding priority, and no healthcare facility will be allowed to compromise established health, sanitary and operational standards in the state,” she said.
EDOHERMA also used the development to remind private healthcare operators that membership of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners is not a substitute for government registration.
The agency said registration is necessary to ensure that healthcare facilities meet acceptable standards, provide services within their approved scope and engage qualified professionals.
