By Awwal Umar Kontagora The growing number of health training institutions operating in Niger State without adequate facilities,...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The growing number of health training institutions operating in Niger State without adequate facilities, qualified personnel and effective supervision has raised concerns among lawmakers, who warn that the situation could undermine the quality of healthcare delivery and endanger residents' lives.
The concern was raised during a courtesy visit by members of the Niger State House of Assembly Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Hon. Umar Nasir Paiko, to the Niger State Private Health Facilities Agency (NiSPHFA).
The visit provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss stronger legislative collaboration in tackling quackery, regulating private health facilities and curbing the proliferation of substandard health training institutions across the state.
According to a press statement issued by Muhammad S. Abubakar, the Public Relations Officer of NiSPHFA, the Executive Chairman of the Agency, Dr Abdullahi Suleiman, who received the delegation, called for sustained legislative support to strengthen the regulation of private healthcare facilities and health training institutions.
He stressed that effective regulatory oversight was essential to protecting residents from unqualified practitioners and unsafe medical services.
Dr Suleiman disclosed that the Agency's regulatory activities, since commencing operations about eight months ago, had revealed significant deficiencies in several Schools of Health Sciences and Technology, particularly in Minna and Suleja.
He expressed concern that only a few of the institutions inspected had met the required standards, warning that graduates produced without adequate practical training and learning facilities could pose a serious risk to the public they are expected to serve.
He explained that NiSPHFA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tertiary Education, is responsible for monitoring the clinical components of the institutions, including demonstration rooms, laboratories and clinics, to ensure that students acquire the practical skills and professional competence required before entering the healthcare workforce.
The Executive Chairman consequently called on the State Assembly to strengthen the legal framework establishing the Agency to enable it to discharge its regulatory responsibilities effectively.
He emphasised that the Agency's objective was not to frustrate private investments or shut down businesses indiscriminately, but to ensure that operators comply with minimum standards necessary to protect human lives.
Dr Suleiman further disclosed that the Agency had adopted a measured approach towards institutions with pending regulatory approvals, including placing eligible schools on standby, where appropriate, while awaiting decisions from relevant professional bodies.
He also announced plans to publish a list of duly recognised health facilities and approved training institutions to enable residents to make informed decisions about where to seek medical services and pursue health-related studies.
In his response, Hon. Umar Nasir Paiko commended NiSPHFA for its regulatory interventions, describing the Agency as an important institution in addressing longstanding challenges within the private healthcare sector.
He assured the Agency of the Assembly's readiness to consider necessary amendments to the law establishing it, particularly where existing provisions or ambiguities hinder its effective operations.
The Committee Chairman, however, expressed concern over the increasing number of health training institutions operating without corresponding investments in infrastructure, qualified instructors and adequate clinical training facilities.
He warned that allowing inadequately trained graduates into the healthcare system could have serious consequences for patients and society at large.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration, improving information sharing and ensuring effective regulation across Niger State's 25 local government areas.
Hon. Paiko urged residents to patronise only duly certified health facilities and enrol in recognised health training institutions. He also encouraged members of the public to report suspicious healthcare practices to the appropriate authorities.
Both parties reaffirmed that the protection of lives in Niger State must take precedence over commercial interests, noting that legislative support and effective regulatory oversight remain essential to combating quackery and building a safer healthcare system.
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