The Enugu State Government says it will checkmate all forms of medical quackery, illegal medical practice, unlicensed facilities, and other offences threatening public health in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, gave the resolution on Thursday while declaring open the Inaugural Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Medical Quackery and Related Offences in Enugu.
Ugwu said that the inter-ministerial task force meeting marked a significant step towards strengthening healthcare regulation, protecting residents, and ensuring safe medical practices across the state. The commissioner said that the inter-ministerial task force brings together key ministries, agencies, and stakeholders with a mandate to develop a coordinated approach to identify and investigate irregularities in medical practice.
Ugwu emphasised the commitment of the state government under the leadership of Gov. Peter Mbah to transform the health sector through quality assurance. According to him, our health-loving governor also wants to ensure effective regulation and improved access to safe and reliable healthcare services in all nooks and crannies of the state.
“Medical quackery poses serious risks to lives and must be tackled through collective action and sustained enforcement,” the commissioner noted. He charged members of the task team to work collaboratively, uphold professionalism, and ensure that all healthcare providers and facilities operating in the state comply with approved standards and regulatory requirements.
He stressed the need for intelligence gathering, regular monitoring, and decisive action against individuals and establishments engaging in illegal medical activities. The inauguration of the task team signalled a renewed commitment by the Enugu State Government to safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens.
The inaugural meeting, headed by the health commissioner, was attended by the Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney General, Mr Osinachi Nnajieze, and the Commissioner of Information and Communication, ably represented by the Director of Administration and Supply, Ugochukwu Adimora.
Others included: Commissioner for Children and Gender Affairs, who was ably represented by the HOD Child, Clementina Ogbu, the Director of Security Services, the government house Chief Security Officer, who was represented by ASP A. A. Hakika. The rest are the Director of Administration and Supply and the Director of Medical Services of the health ministry.
