FCT Threatens Unregistered Hospitals

By SALAMATU YUSUF,
Wednesday, October 5, 2005.

In its efforts to sanitize the health sub-sector for optimal delivery of Health Services to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Administration would henceforth shut down unregistered hospitals or health institutions in the territory.

The FCT Minister, Malam Nasir el-Rufai made this known while declaring open a one-day retreat/interactive seminar for Health and Human Services Secretariat and Private Health Care Centers in Abuja.

He said that there are about 300 health institutions that registered with the FCT Administration while about the same number are unregistered.

He further said there are several others, which have not applied and warned that it is illegal to operate without registration.
The Minister said that the FCT Administration accords respect to both the public and private health providers and assured that the government will do all that is possible to assist them carrying out their statutory responsibilities.

The Minister restated that the government alone cannot solve the health needs and problems of the residents, he therefore enjoined the private health providers to improve their services, saying that theirs is a humanitarian one.

El-rufai said that the private health providers should assist the government to solve the problems of quackery, stressing that they are the people causing trouble for us.

Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Hajiya Amina Zakari said that the FCT Health sector would never be same again after retreat.

The Secretary who was represented at the seminar by the Director of clinical and inspectorate, Hajiya Nana Mahumud emphasised that private sector was doing more than complimenting public Hospitals.

She observed that there is a large number of patients patronizing private hospitals today and this has helped in decongesting the over flowing public hospitals.

Resource persons from different health institutions of repute delivered lectures on various topics relating to effective health delivery at the retreat.