Benue Government Shuts Two Hospitals Over Unsafe Medical Practices

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

In a continued move to curb quackery and substandard medical services across the state, the Benue State Government has closed down two hospitals for violating professional healthcare standards.

The affected facilities are St. John’s Hospital in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) and St.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed the development on Friday, explaining that he had dispatched the Ministry’s enforcement team led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Joshua Agbadu. The team was supported by the Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Alex Tyover Iorbo, alongside Desk Officers for Otukpo and Gboko LGAs, to conduct routine monitoring across Otukpo and surrounding areas.

During the inspection of St. John’s Hospital, Otukpo, the team discovered that the facility was operating in substandard and unsafe conditions and was not complying with approved treatment protocols.

According to the Commissioner, this included a reported case in which a patient allegedly had both breasts removed on November 25th, a procedure said to have been conducted without adherence to established clinical guidelines.

He noted that the hospital was promptly shut down, while the Medical Superintendent received a formal query and was directed to appear before the Ministry for further investigation.

Dr. Ogwuche reiterated Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration’s commitment to ensuring safe, ethical, and high-quality healthcare services for all Benue residents. He stressed that the government would not hesitate to take decisive action against any facility found to be endangering patient lives.

The Ministry had earlier sealed St. Peter and Paul Community Health Centre and Maternity in Lessel, Ushongo LGA, over gross professional misconduct, reinforcing the government’s ongoing efforts to rid the health sector of malpractice.

The Commissioner urged all healthcare providers to strictly uphold professional standards or face regulatory sanctions.