Our reporter
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly and member representing Oredo West Constituency, Hon. Dr Edosa Richard, has made an urgent appeal for the passage of the Edo Health Regulatory Agency (Edoherma) Bill, aimed at curbing medical malpractice and sanitising the State’s healthcare system.
Speaking during a recent plenary session, Dr Edosa decried the growing menace of unqualified individuals engaging in medical procedures and dispensing drugs without proper training. He lamented that many pharmacies and chemist shops have turned into makeshift clinics, where unlicensed hands perform injections and even minor surgeries.
“The unchecked sale of dangerous substances like tramadol and codeine is destroying our youth, while fake health practitioners continue to exploit vulnerable citizens,” he warned.
Dr Edosa further noted that the rapid proliferation of private clinics and laboratories has overstretched the Ministry of Health’s capacity to monitor and regulate their operations. He described as “deeply troubling” the rise of self-proclaimed “computerised” diagnostic centres providing false test results and unverified treatments, which have led to preventable deaths across communities.
He said the proposed Edoherma Bill seeks to establish a dedicated agency to register, monitor, and enforce standards across all health facilities in the state. The law, he added, would “end quackery, promote accountability, and protect Edo people from dangerous and exploitative practices.”
Dr Edosa called on his colleagues in the House to support the speedy passage of the bill, stressing that “together, we can create a healthier and safer Edo State where everyone has access to trustworthy healthcare.”
