Kano govt seals private hospital for providing false information during license registration

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA) has closed down a hospital, Reach Clinic for non-compliance with the law establishing the agency and standard operation guidelines in the state.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, spokesman of the state’s Ministry of Health in a statement in Kano on Monday said the Director General of the agency, Professor Salisu Ahmad made the disclosure shortly after closing the clinic alongside staff of the agency.
He said the clinic, situated along Court Road, Gyadi-Gyadi quarters in the metropolis, was sealed off because it was opened before completing documentations and PHIMA license registration guidelines for opening any private health facility in the state.
The DG stated that in the course of registration, the information provided by the management of the clinic to the agency was totally contrary to the one at their disposal when they were invited for verification.
He said the DG noted with dismay that the staff names submitted by the clinic as their registered personnel were either no longer working with the health facility or had already left the state.
“Unfortunately, the doctors we get working at the time of our arrival to the hospital were not the ones whose names were given to us. In view of this, we deem it pertinent to close the clinic until when they abide by all the rules and standard operation guidelines, because they are not even permitted to start operation”, the DG was quoted as saying in the statement.
Ahmad recalled that the law of the PHIMA that empowers it to oversee activities of private health institutions had stipulated that, for any centre to be opened, it must come to the agency to complete the required documentations regarding its staff and services.
The DG added that “with all these, such a centre would not be allowed to start operation until when the Agency goes and examine as well as assess the information submitted to them and become satisfied with.
“Reach Clinic just went ahead and open the hospital without our permission despite the lapses they have. That is why we sealed off the clinic. It will remain closed until we are given with the genuine information that we are require and become convince with”, Mr Ahmad assured.
The DG pointed out that Governor Abba Yusuf had placed utmost priority on public health, maintaining that “ the Governor is committed and determined to see that the healthcare system is robust and standardized.