The Enugu State Government has sealed four private hospitals in the Enugu North Local Government Area of the state for failing to meet regulatory requirements.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday in Enugu by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Chidiogo Ugodu.

Mr Ugodu said the hospitals were sealed on July 8 as part of the ministry’s intensified monitoring and supervision of private health facilities across the state to ensure quality healthcare delivery and compliance with regulatory standards.

She said the renewed enforcement exercise was initiated by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu.

According to the statement, the Director of Medical Services, Dr Chinyere Ezeudu, led a team of senior ministry officials on an unscheduled inspection of private health facilities in the Enugu North LGA.

The statement quoted Mr Ugwu as saying that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that private hospitals and healthcare providers operating in the state complied with statutory requirements.

He said the requirements included the renewal of operating licences and the registration of facilities yet to be captured by the relevant regulatory authorities.

The commissioner said the team inspected seven private health facilities, assessing their operational status, documentation, licensing compliance and adherence to prescribed healthcare standards.

Mr Ugwu reaffirmed the commitment of the state government, under Governor Peter Mbah, to ensuring that residents had access to safe, effective and quality healthcare services.

“The supervision exercise will be sustained across the state to ensure that only duly approved and compliant facilities provide healthcare services to the people,” he said.

The commissioner urged operators of private healthcare facilities to regularise their operations by renewing expired licences and registering unlicensed facilities where necessary.

“The ongoing monitoring exercise is not only a regulatory measure but also a critical step towards strengthening the health system and safeguarding the lives of citizens,” he said.

The state government, through the Ministry of Health, some weeks ago sealed three illegal health facilities operating without licences in Enugu South Local Government Area.

 (NAN)