Edo govt shuts unregistered hospital after 10 years of operation

The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) recently shut down Jess Royal Hospital in Benin City for operating without proper registration for over a decade. Dr Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, the agency's CEO, revealed that the hospital had been functioning without any statutory registration with either the Edo State Ministry of Health or EDOHERMA itself.

During a monitoring exercise at an adjacent orphanage, the agency discovered the unregistered facility. The hospital's owner, a member of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), claimed membership provided the necessary authorization. However, Urhoghide-Edigin clarified that such membership does not equate to statutory registration or legal authorization to run a healthcare facility in Edo State.

The inspection uncovered numerous health and safety violations, including poor infection control practices, cobwebs, rusted equipment, damaged mattresses, lack of fire extinguishers, absence of an emergency plan, and no referral system. The agency directed Jess Royal Hospital to cease all operations immediately and provide a two-week window to complete registration and rectify the deficiencies.

Failure to meet the regulatory requirements would result in the facility being barred from providing healthcare services. Patient safety was emphasized as the top priority of the agency, with no exceptions allowed for compromised health, sanitary, or operational standards.