EDOHERMA Shuts Jess Royal Hospital Over Unregistered Status

• EDOHERMA shut down Jess Royal Hospital in Benin City for operating without statutory registration for over 10 years.
• The unregistered hospital was discovered during an inspection of an orphanage in the same building and was not registered with the Edo State Ministry of Health or EDOHERMA.
• Inspectors found severe deficiencies, including poor infection control, rusted equipment, damaged mattresses, and a lack of fire safety or emergency plans.
• The hospital owner's claims of ANPMP membership and health issues were deemed insufficient justification for non-compliance.
• EDOHERMA has given the hospital two weeks to begin registration and rectify all deficiencies, emphasizing that patient safety is the agency's top priority.

EDOHERMA has unequivocally stated that Jess Royal Hospital will remain closed and will not be permitted to resume healthcare operations until it has satisfactorily met all applicable regulatory requirements.

The Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has taken decisive action, ordering the closure of Jess Royal Hospital in Benin City. This significant enforcement measure by EDOHERMA shuts Jess Royal Hospital due to its alleged operation without the necessary registration from the relevant regulatory bodies. The agency's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, confirmed that the facility had been operating for more than a decade without statutory registration, a critical lapse in compliance.

The discovery of this Edo State unregistered hospital occurred during a routine monitoring exercise. EDOHERMA personnel were inspecting an orphanage located in the same building as the hospital when they identified the unauthorized medical facility. Subsequent investigations revealed that Jess Royal Hospital was not registered with either the Edo State Ministry of Health or EDOHERMA itself, highlighting a profound disregard for established healthcare regulation Edo State.

Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin, speaking to journalists, emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the hospital's prolonged period of operation outside legal frameworks. This Jess Royal Hospital Benin City closure underscores EDOHERMA's commitment to enforcing compliance within the state's healthcare sector, signaling a stricter stance against facilities operating without proper oversight.

During an engagement with the hospital's owner, EDOHERMA officials were explicitly informed that the facility had never been registered with the state government. The owner reportedly cited membership in the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) as a form of legitimacy, an assertion swiftly dismissed by EDOHERMA. The agency clarified that affiliation with such an association does not equate to statutory registration or grant authorization for a healthcare facility to operate within Edo State, reinforcing the strict requirements for Nigeria medical facility licensing compliance.

Furthermore, the owner attributed his failure to complete the registration process to personal health challenges. However, the inspection team uncovered a litany of severe operational and safety deficiencies that extended far beyond mere administrative oversight. These included alarmingly poor infection prevention and control practices, visible cobwebs on ceilings and walls, and the presence of rusted and deteriorated ward equipment.

The inspection also revealed badly damaged mattresses, a complete absence of evidence for routine fumigation or pest control, and a lack of a valid and serviceable fire extinguisher. Critically, the facility possessed neither an emergency preparedness plan nor an established referral system. EDOHERMA stated that these widespread deficiencies raised profound concerns regarding patient safety and the hospital's capacity to effectively respond to emergencies, indicating a severe breach of healthcare regulation Edo State.

In response to these critical 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 registration process and rectify the identified shortcomings, which encompass infrastructural, environmental, equipment, and general health-standard deficiencies. This robust Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency enforcement action sends a clear message to all medical facilities.

EDOHERMA has unequivocally stated that Jess Royal Hospital will remain closed and will not be permitted to resume healthcare operations until it has satisfactorily met all applicable regulatory requirements. Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin reiterated that patient safety remains the paramount concern for the agency. She stressed that no healthcare facility in the state would be permitted to compromise established health, sanitary, and operational standards, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of Nigeria medical facility licensing compliance. This incident highlights the critical importance for all healthcare providers to adhere strictly to regulatory frameworks to ensure public health and safety.

This action by EDOHERMA signals increased regulatory enforcement against unregistered healthcare facilities in Edo State, prompting lawyers to advise medical clients on urgent compliance with licensing and operational standards to avoid shutdowns and penalties. It also highlights the critical importance of adhering to patient safety and operational standards to prevent regulatory intervention.

Source: Original reporting via Daily Trust