The Rivers House of Assembly says it is determined to standardise the state health sector through ensuring appropriate health care delivery and penalising operators of substandard healthcare facilities.
The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mr Adonye Diri, expressed the determination, during a public hearing on Rivers State Health care Facilities Registration Bill 2018 in Port Harcourt on Tuesday
Diri, representing Opobo-Nkoro Constituency, said the bill when passed would be in the best interest of Rivers people because it would reduce the activities of quacks in the health sector.
“The essence of the bill when passed is to make sure that healthcare facilities are managed by trained operators and professionals to give our people the services that they need.
“It will also check the entry of quacks into the healthcare business as you know it is something that concerns the lives of people.
“Tough times now await illegal operators of health facilities and quacks in the profession as the state assembly is determined to support the governor’s decision to clamp down on them,” he said.
The Speaker, Ikunyi-awaji Ibani, in his opening address read by Mr Martin Amaewhule (PDP), Obio/Akpor Constituency 1, expressed optimism that participants would ensure fruitful deliberations to restore the sector.
Ibani said the bill, when passed, would sanitise healthcare delivery system in the state.
The public hearing was attended by representatives from the state Ministries of Health and Justice as well as other stakeholders in the health sector who presented relevant papers.
Dr Joseph Olawale, National President, Association of General Private Nursing Practitioners, said that the bill when passed would give room for enforcement of penalties to offenders of healthcare operational laws.
“The bill seeks to enforce a law that even chemists and patent medical stores must have their operational certificates.
“It is abnormal for persons and groups or religious bodies to embark on free medical missions without due permission by the state Ministry of Health.
“The essence is to ensure that whether it is free or paid for, professional and ethical standards are upheld in dispensing healthcare to members of the public,” he said.
Dr Zacchaeus Adangor, Rivers Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, represented by Mr Somiete Nkotaria, said the bill, if passed, would ensure adequate standard and management of healthcare facilities in the state.
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