Anambra State Government has ordered all mortuary operators in the state to register their facilities or renew expired licences as part of efforts to tighten regulation in the health sector.
The directive was issued by the Ministry of Health through a public notice signed by the Director of Medical Services, Chukwulobelu Ugochukwu, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike.
According to the notice dated May 29, 2026, the exercise is part of the ongoing healthcare reform agenda under Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The government directed all affected operators to complete registration or renewal processes on or before June 5, 2026, warning that enforcement and inspection would begin immediately after the deadline.
It further stated that any facility operating without proper registration or with expired documentation would face sanctions in line with existing laws.
Officials explained that the move is aimed at updating the state’s database of mortuary facilities to strengthen monitoring, ensure compliance with public health standards, and improve regulatory oversight.
The notice also clarified that hospitals offering mortuary services must register their mortuary units separately, regardless of their general hospital licences.
All unregistered or expired facilities were instructed to report to the Directorate of Medical Services in Awka for immediate compliance processing.
The government added that the initiative is also designed to curb unsafe practices, control the spread of infectious diseases during outbreaks, and sanitise the management of human remains across the state.
It warned that full inspection and enforcement exercises would commence statewide after the deadline, with appropriate penalties imposed on defaulters and illegal operators.