The Cross River State Government has sealed three private health facilities in the state over alleged medical quackery, failure to register with relevant authorities, outdated equipment and inability to meet required operational standards.
The state Ministry of Health disclosed the closure in a statement issued to journalists in Calabar over the weekend.
The statement, signed by Dr Stephen Agbor of the Department of Medical and Dental Services (DMDS) and Dr Dan Abubakar, said the affected facilities were shut following an inspection carried out by the Health Quality and Anti-Quackery Taskforce.
According to the ministry, the inspection, which covered health facilities within the Central Senatorial District, was conducted after intelligence reports were received about their operations.
The affected clinics include Gifted Hands Empowerment Foundation, with branches in Ikom and Ekori; Rockalive Medical Centre in Nko; and Benson Clinic in Ikom.
The ministry alleged that Gifted Hands Empowerment Foundation was operating without registration from the Cross River State Ministry of Health and lacked qualified, licensed medical personnel.
It further accused the facility of operating in an unsafe clinical environment, noting concerns over reported cases of high post-surgical mortality and the involvement of an individual identified as a quack doctor.
The statement added that the facility’s Ekori branch, located at Engineer Sam Eko’s residence in Ntan Ekori, was linked to the reported death of a woman from Yakurr who allegedly died shortly after undergoing surgery at the clinic on June 7.
For Rockalive Medical Centre in Nko, the taskforce said the facility was being managed by unqualified personnel, lacked essential medical equipment and had inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
The ministry also ordered the closure of Benson Clinic in Ikom, which was previously owned by the late Dr Benson Iloani but is now being managed by his wife, who it said has no medical training background.
The taskforce noted that the clinic had no licensed doctor, lacked basic hospital equipment, operated with deteriorated facilities and was involved in what it described as unethical medical practices.