By Muhammad Amaan
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has given assurance that strong measures will be taken to stop illegal activity perpetrated in the healthcare system.
Reacting to a report in Daily Trust, which exposed illegal organ harvesting and trade in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs, the health minister said there would be stringent enforcement in tackling some of the issues raised.
Pate on his X page, formerly Twitter, condemned the depravity and criminality disclosed in the report.
According to the Minister, the incident demonstrated the extreme criminality and degradation that exist in some societal segments.
He cited provisions 51–56 of the NHA (2014), which forbid such activity.
He said, “The NHA (2014) sections 51-56 prohibits the illegality uncovered by the journalists. The central issues are the enforcement practices and evasion of such legal and regulatory guidelines by unpatriotic criminal elements.
“This is similar in so many ways to many other acts of criminality in society.”
The minister explained how the recent formation of the Tertiary Hospitals Care Standards Committee demonstrated the government’s commitment to enhancing regulations.
He further said, “There is a sound policy and legal framework that enables regulation of health practice in Nigeria, including medically necessary transplantation.”
He added that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), was also gearing up to enforce standards to be followed by medical professionals in Nigeria.
Prof. Pate, however, said regulation of hospitals relied on state governments, urging them to step up to ensure such facilities in their domains are properly checked.
