Kehinde Ishola
The Benue State Government has sealed St. John’s Hospital, Otukpo, over alleged substandard medical practices, following a reported case in which both breasts of a patient were removed on November 25 without adherence to established clinical guidelines.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, confirmed the development on Saturday, stating that the facility was shut down for “non-adherence to approved clinical standards.”
He disclosed that the ministry had been monitoring the hospital after receiving multiple reports of malpractice before dispatching an enforcement team on Friday for an inspection.
The team was led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Agbadu Joshua, and included the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association’s Anti-Quackery Committee, Dr. Alex Iorbo, along with desk officers for Otukpo and Gboko Local Government Areas, who were on routine field monitoring in the area.
Ogwuche said the exercise was part of the government’s intensified campaign against quackery and substandard medical practice across the state.
“During the inspection of St. John’s Hospital, Otukpo, the team found the facility operating in a substandard and unsafe environment and also failing to follow approved treatment protocols,” he said.
“The malpractices included a reported case of the removal of both breasts of a patient allegedly carried out on November 25 without adherence to established clinical guidelines.”
He added that the hospital was immediately sealed, while the Medical Superintendent was issued a formal query and directed to report to the ministry for further investigation on Monday.
The commissioner reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting residents and ensuring safe, ethical and high-quality healthcare delivery in the state.
“The government will not hesitate to take firm action against any facility found endangering patient lives,” Ogwuche warned, urging healthcare workers to maintain strict professional standards.
The latest shutdown follows the earlier closure of St. Peter and Paul Community Health Centre and Maternity in Lessel, Ushongo Local Government Area, over alleged gross professional misconduct, underscoring the state government’s ongoing efforts to sanitise the health sector.