EDOHERMA Shuts Jess Royal Hospital Benin: Operated 10 Years Without Registration

• EDOHERMA has ordered the immediate closure of Jess Royal Hospital in Benin for operating over 10 years without statutory registration.
• An inspection revealed numerous critical deficiencies, including poor infection control, dilapidated equipment, and a lack of emergency preparedness and safety measures.
• The hospital owner's membership in the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) was clarified by EDOHERMA as not constituting legal authorization to operate.
• Jess Royal Hospital has been given two weeks to begin the official registration process and correct all identified infrastructural and operational shortcomings.
• EDOHERMA emphasizes that patient safety is its top priority and mandatory registration is required for all healthcare facilities in Edo State to ensure compliance with health and operational standards.

The agency firmly asserted that patient safety remains its paramount concern, and no healthcare provider will be permitted to operate if they fail to uphold established health, sanitary, and operational benchmarks within Edo State.

The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has ordered the immediate shutdown of Jess Royal Hospital in Benin, Edo State. This decisive action follows the discovery that the medical facility had been operating for over a decade without the necessary statutory registration. The closure was publicly announced via a statement shared by the state government on Facebook this past Saturday, highlighting a significant breach of regulatory compliance.

The hospital was found to be unregistered with both the Edo State Ministry of Health and EDOHERMA itself, despite its long operational history. The non-compliance came to light during a routine monitoring exercise conducted by EDOHERMA officials at an orphanage situated within the same building as the hospital. During this visit, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, the Chief Executive Officer of EDOHERMA, directly engaged with the hospital's owner regarding its operational status.

During their interaction, the owner informed Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin that the facility lacked state government registration. The owner further stated that he was a member of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP). However, Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin promptly clarified that affiliation with a professional association does not confer statutory registration or legal authorization to operate a healthcare facility within the state of Edo.

Following the initial discovery, Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin instructed EDOHERMA’s Medical Services Department to conduct a thorough inspection of Jess Royal Hospital. This subsequent assessment, led by Dr. Peter Evbuomwan, the Director of Medical Services, uncovered a multitude of serious deficiencies within the facility. The operator attributed his failure to complete the registration process to personal health challenges, an explanation EDOHERMA acknowledged while reiterating the facility's obligation to meet all statutory requirements for continued operation.

The inspection team documented alarming conditions, including substandard infection prevention and control practices. They observed cobwebs on ceilings and walls, indicating a lack of proper hygiene, alongside rusted and deteriorated ward equipment. Furthermore, badly damaged mattresses were noted, and there was no evidence of routine fumigation or pest control measures being implemented.

Beyond the environmental and equipment issues, the hospital also lacked fundamental safety provisions. Inspectors found no valid or serviceable fire extinguisher, no established emergency preparedness plan, and no functional referral system for patients requiring specialized care. These critical shortcomings collectively raised significant concerns regarding patient safety and the hospital's capacity to effectively respond to emergencies.

In light of the severe findings, EDOHERMA issued an immediate directive for Jess Royal Hospital to cease all medical operations. The agency has granted the facility a two-week window to initiate the official EDOHERMA registration process and to rectify all identified deficiencies across its infrastructure, environment, equipment, and health standards. A follow-up inspection will be conducted to assess the level of compliance achieved within this timeframe.

EDOHERMA has made it unequivocally clear that Jess Royal Hospital will not be permitted to resume healthcare operations until it has satisfactorily met all applicable regulatory requirements. The agency firmly asserted that patient safety remains its paramount concern, and no healthcare provider will be permitted to operate if they fail to uphold established health, sanitary, and operational benchmarks within Edo State.

This incident serves as a stark reminder to all owners and operators of private hospitals and clinics in Edo State that membership in professional bodies like the ANPMP does not equate to government approval or authorization to operate. Statutory registration with EDOHERMA is a mandatory prerequisite, ensuring that healthcare services are delivered in appropriate environments, within approved scopes of practice, and by suitably qualified personnel.

This incident highlights EDOHERMA's strict enforcement of mandatory registration and operational standards for healthcare facilities in Edo State. Lawyers advising healthcare providers must ensure clients are fully registered and compliant, as professional association membership is insufficient, and non-compliance risks immediate closure and penalties.

Source: Reporting based on Edo State government disclosures.