Don’t Patronize Unregistered IVF Facilities, LASG Warns

The Lagos State Government has warned the public to desist from patronizing unregistered health facilities that engaged in the practice of in vitro Fertilization (IVF) and other advanced specialized medical procedures which are supposed to be carried out only by specialists.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who issued this warning today at his office while reviewing reports of various activities carried out in the health sector explained that these erring health facilities also engage in other unethical practices such as paid advertisements and promos without recourse to laws guiding such.

Said he “It is worrisome that the said facilities engage in these acts and other unorthodox practices to scam and extort money from unsuspecting members of the public. Government is not happy about these unwholesome practices which are capable of endangering lives of people, denigrating the medical profession, the image of the government as well as causing rancor amongst the citizenry”.

Idris cautioned citizens to stop patronizing IVF facilities that are not duly registered with the State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) adding that IVF and other advanced medical procedures are only to be done by certified and specialized medical personnel in accredited health facilities.

According to the commissioner, “the lives of people are continually being endangered by some facilities operating these specialized services while they have not been certified and hence members of the public should be wary of patronizing them.”

Furthermore, he strongly warned the facilities concerned to desist or the government will continue to do all within it power to curb their activities in the interest of the people of the state.
Idris also cautioned registered health facilities who practice beyond the scope or schedule for which they are registered. He noted that a situation where a health facility which is registered as a Maternity Home engages in activities beyond the schedule of a maternity home is not acceptable.

“HEFAMAA is intensifying its monitoring activities and any facilities found wanting in any area of qualitative health care delivery will be sanctioned accordingly and any erring health care providers would be made to face the full wrath of the law”, the Commissioner said.

He stressed the need for all operators of health facilities in Lagos State to ensure that such facilities are duly registered and manned by qualified health personnel, ensure the annual licensing of all professionals working in their facilities, enforce the availability and use of adequate and appropriate instruments and equipment in their health facilities as well as ensure that all their facilities conform with prescribed requirements.

He explained that HEFAMAA as an agency is established to ensure improvement in the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery in the state, thereby securing the safety of lives of its citizenry. He also added that the Agency is not set up to witch hunt anybody but to regulate the activities of providers to meet up with the standards set by law to ensure a healthy citizenry.

The Commissioner counseled members of the public not to patronize any health facility that does not display the HEFAMAA Logo and to channel complaints and petitions in respect of unprofessional conducts by health care providers to the HEFAMAA Office, Room 514 Ministry of Health, Alausa, Ikeja or call 0802302353, 0802344367602