Bauchi Assembly Moves Against Quackery In Private Hospitals

The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Abubakar Suleiman, has assured that the proposed law establishing the Bauchi State Private Health Institutions Regulatory Agency (BAPHIRA) will strengthen regulation, monitoring and service delivery in the state’s private health sector.

The speaker stated this yesterday at a public hearing on the Bill for a Law to Establish the Bauchi State Private Health Institutions Regulatory Agency, otherwise known as BAPHIRA, 2026.

The legislation is aimed at curtailing quackery and unsafe practices in the health sector.

The public hearing brought together stakeholders from the health, security, government and judicial sectors to deliberate on the proposed legislation and provide inputs towards making it comprehensive, workable and inclusive.

According to the speaker, building a dependable healthcare system requires collective efforts by government, professional bodies and communities, stressing that the proposed law has direct implications for households across the state.

He said the trust parents place in healthcare providers when they take their children to clinics and hospitals comes with a serious responsibility for practitioners, while the government has an obligation to enforce standards and protect patients.

“The protection of lives remains one of the foremost duties of a responsible government. Our commitment to healthcare must therefore extend beyond the construction of hospitals and the procurement of equipment.

“It must include the quality of care delivered, the competence of those delivering it and the accountability of institutions entrusted with human lives,” he said.

The Speaker said the House remained committed to enacting laws that would strengthen the healthcare system and promote access to safe, quality and affordable healthcare.

He commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for his investments in primary healthcare revitalisation, infrastructure and financing, saying the proposed BAPHIRA law was designed to complement the government’s efforts.

Suleiman also acknowledged the contributions of private healthcare providers towards expanding access to healthcare, creating employment opportunities and supporting public health institutions.

He, however, expressed concern over the prevalence of unregistered health facilities, unqualified personnel, unsuitable premises and unsafe practices, which he said could expose patients to avoidable harm and undermine the reputation of the healthcare profession.

He explained that the proposed agency would be established as a corporate body responsible for the registration, licensing, inspection and monitoring of private health institutions across the state.

According to him, the agency would be saddled with registering and licensing private health institutions; setting and enforcing minimum standards for infrastructure, personnel, equipment and services; conducting inspections, monitoring and accreditation; taking appropriate enforcement action against facilities that violate prescribed standards, including closure where necessary; and maintaining a comprehensive database of legitimate private healthcare providers.

“These responsibilities are intended to make standards clearer, oversight more consistent and accountability more effective,” the Speaker said.

He, however, stressed that the effectiveness of the proposed legislation would depend on the clarity of its provisions and fairness in its implementation.

Suleiman therefore called for a clear definition of the agency’s mandate, as well as workable collaboration with existing health authorities and professional regulatory bodies to prevent duplication of functions.

He also urged stakeholders to ensure a balance between firm enforcement and fair treatment, with transparent criteria, documented decisions, proportionate sanctions and avenues for appeal.

The speaker further urged participants to make practical recommendations on infection prevention and control, waste disposal, emergency preparedness, referral systems and patient data protection.