We are determined to end quackery among medical practitioners ― Oyo govt

The Oyo State government on Thursday pledged to ensure the elimination of quackery in the health care delivery sector of the state to guarantee the safety of lives of the people.

Besides, the government also sought the cooperation of the people in its quest to end quackery and ensure that medical facilities are run only by qualified practitioners.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Bashir Bello, said this at the opening of a two-day seminar for private health practitioners in the state held at the Oyo State College of Health Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan.

At the event, the government also inaugurated the logo for identification of registered medical facilities and the two-way World Health Organisation (WHO) standard uniform referral form for the private and public health practitioners.

According to Bello, the government had already commenced the process of weeding the sector of quacks by sealing off the facilities that were being run unqualified medical personnel.

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The commissioner, however, explained that there was a need for proper awareness and enlightenment among the people to ensure the success of the move by the government.

Bello said many of the people engaging in quackery were doing so because of financial gains, while others believed they were offering services to the society.

The commissioner said, “We are closing down all the health facilities being run by quacks but unfortunately the society should be able to identify them, some of them engage in it because of money and some because of ignorance as they too conscientiously believe that they are helping the society.

“Our people also encourage them by going to them for an immediate solution instead of going to qualified health care delivery centres. While we are closing down the unqualified medical facilities we also need to talk to our people to let them know that their lives are in danger by patronising quacks.”

Speaking on the purpose of the seminar, the director, secondary health care and training, ministry of health, Dr Wale Falana, said it was meant to strengthen the bond between the private and public health care practitioners in the state.

He said “The ministry of health organised the seminar for private health practitioners, that is, doctors, medical laboratory technologists and everyone that is involved in the provision of health care delivery in line with the cardinal programmes of the present administration in the state.

“We know that a lot of people patronise private health facilities, we are trying to strengthen the relationship between the private facilities and the ministry of health to make health care delivery available to the people wherever they live.

“We are also trying to see how we can eliminate quackery in the society and we want to see how the private sector can come in on health indicators. Also, for the first time, the state government is launching a logo for the ministry of health for the accredited facilities by the ministry.”