Lagos State Health Commissioner, Professor Akin Abayomi, has declared war on fraudulent practices within the state’s healthcare system.
Professor Abayomi stated this at the Health systems consult Limited’s End of Project dissemination event.
He emphasised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to achieving universal healthcare coverage for Lagosians, highlighting the dangers of an unregulated healthcare environment.
“The vast healthcare ecosystem in Lagos,” he explained, “comprises a complex mix of private and public practitioners, with a significant number of alternative medicine practitioners.” Professor Abayomi, responsible for overseeing this sector, stressed the critical need for collaboration and regulation.
“With roughly 4,000 private hospitals, 20,000 alternative medicine practitioners, and just 300 public health facilities,” he said, “ensuring synergy, harmonisation, and regulation is paramount. An unregulated environment opens the door for quackery, a grave threat that can lead to increased illness and deaths among our citizens.”
Professor Abayomi stressed the government’s role in establishing strong legislative policies and enforcing regulations to ensure a safe and effective healthcare system.
“While we acknowledge the private sector as the primary provider of healthcare in Lagos,” he stated, “the government’s responsibility extends beyond its own healthcare facilities. We set the standards and ensure the private sector follows suit. We must also regulate the large number of alternative medicine practitioners to safeguard public health.”
