The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has ordered the immediate closure of Jess Royal Hospital in Benin City after discovering that the facility had operated for more than a decade without statutory registration.
According to the agency, the hospital was neither registered with the Edo State Ministry of Health nor currently registered with EDOHERMA, raising concerns over the legality and safety of its operations.
The discovery was made during a routine monitoring exercise at an orphanage located in the same building as the hospital.
EDOHERMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, said she engaged the hospital’s owner during the visit and was informed that the facility had not been registered with the state government.
The owner reportedly explained that he was a member of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP).
Urhoghide-Edigin, however, clarified that membership of ANPMP does not constitute statutory registration and does not authorise any individual or facility to provide healthcare services in Edo State.
She subsequently directed the agency’s Medical Services Department to carry out a comprehensive inspection of the hospital.
The follow-up inspection, led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Peter Evbuomwan, uncovered several deficiencies, including poor infection prevention and control practices, cobwebs on ceilings and walls, rusted and deteriorated ward equipment, and badly damaged mattresses.
Inspectors also found no evidence of routine fumigation or pest-control measures at the facility.
The hospital was further found to lack a valid and serviceable fire extinguisher, an emergency preparedness plan and an established referral system.
EDOHERMA said the findings raised serious concerns about patient safety and the facility’s capacity to respond effectively to medical emergencies.
During the inspection, the operator reportedly told the team that health challenges had prevented him from completing the registration process.
The agency, however, maintained that the facility was required to meet all statutory requirements for continued operation, particularly as it had been providing healthcare services for several years.
Consequently, EDOHERMA ordered the immediate suspension of all medical operations at Jess Royal Hospital.
The agency gave the facility two weeks to commence the official EDOHERMA registration process and address the identified infrastructural, environmental, equipment and healthcare-standard deficiencies.
EDOHERMA said a follow-up inspection would be conducted to assess the hospital’s level of compliance.
It stressed that Jess Royal Hospital would not be permitted to resume healthcare operations until it satisfactorily met all applicable regulatory requirements.
Urhoghide-Edigin said patient safety remained the agency’s overriding priority, stressing that no healthcare facility would be allowed to compromise established health, sanitary and operational standards in Edo State.
EDOHERMA also reminded owners and operators of private hospitals and clinics across the state that membership of ANPMP does not amount to government approval or authorisation to operate.
The agency reiterated that statutory registration with EDOHERMA is mandatory to ensure that healthcare services are delivered in appropriate environments, within approved scopes of practice and by suitably qualified personnel.
