The Niger State Government on Wednesday said it has closed down 26 fake hospitals and 25 medicine stores for quackery and dealing in fake drugs.
The state Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr. Ibrahim Sule, stated this in Minna while addressing journalists on the activities of the Ministry.
Sule said that 10 of the private hospitals were permanently closed while the activities of the remaining 16 are being investigated by experts from the ministry.
According to Sule: “The doctors operating the shut hospitals are not qualified to practice and those caught have been handed over to relevant authorities for appropriate actions.
“In 2011 alone, 320 private hospitals were registered in the state and the figure has risen to 360 this year.”
The Commissioner, while expressing the determination of government to eradicate the sale of fake drugs in the state, explained that 25 patent medicine stores have been closed for selling fake drugs.
“The state hospitals have been repositioned to adequately provide medical services to the people. They have been fully equipped while 168 doctors are in their employ,” he said.
He added that two new hospitals will be built in Lemu and Agwara areas of the state this year.
Furthermore, Sule warned quarks to stay off the health sector, adding that the government was determined to chase them out of the state.
He called on residents to stop patronising quacks while in need of medical attention.
“Fake doctors are doing more harm to people’s health and they are charging exorbitant fees,” he said.
Also, Sule said that the state has achieved 78 per cent polio immunisation coverage adding that it hopes to achieve over 80 per cent this year.
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