The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) is calling for enhanced collaboration across the healthcare sector in a bid to ensure that every resident has access to safe, high-quality medical services.
EpeInsights learnt that this initiative aims to create stronger partnerships between healthcare practitioners, professional bodies, civil society organizations and the general public.
This plea was the focal point of the Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting, which HEFAMAA hosted recently at Dover Hotel, Ikeja.
The theme of the meeting was: “Strengthening Partnership for Quality Healthcare Regulation in Lagos State.”
In her address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, emphasized the crucial role of HEFAMAA as the state’s watchdog for health facility standards.
She outlined the agency’s mandate to ensure that all healthcare facilities within Lagos operate safely and professionally, ensuring the public’s trust and confidence.
“HEFAMAA exists to safeguard the public. We want people to feel secure when they walk into any hospital or clinic in Lagos,” Dr. Ogunyemi stated, acknowledging the challenge posed by the rapid expansion of health facilities.
She pointed out that government oversight alone is not sufficient to guarantee healthcare quality, especially with the daily increase in the number of healthcare establishments. Dr. Ogunyemi stressed the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers, professional bodies, and the public to ensure patient safety.
“With the sheer number of facilities opening up daily, no single agency can do it alone. We depend on collaboration to maintain safe, high-quality services,” she added.
Dr. Ogunyemi further discussed what constitutes quality healthcare, stressing the importance of timely services delivered in hygienic settings, provided by qualified personnel and without avoidable harm to patients.
She explained that true quality care means offering prompt, professional treatment in an environment that ensures safety.
“Patients should receive proper care in settings that do not endanger their health, with courteous and professional treatment,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, highlighted the critical need for strong partnerships across the healthcare sector to maintain uniform standards.
“Partnerships are essential if we want to talk about quality. Quality must focus on the patient’s experience, ensuring they receive the best care, no matter where they are located,” Dr. Idowu explained.
She stressed the importance of fairness in healthcare delivery, emphasizing that patients should receive the same level of care regardless of their location, whether in affluent areas like Ikoyi and Ikeja, or underserved neighborhoods like Agege.
“Access to modern equipment or the right medication should not depend on whether you’re in Ikoyi, Ikeja, or Agege. The surroundings may differ, but the standard must not,” she asserted.
Dr. Idowu also called on health providers to adopt a culture of self-assessment and accountability. She urged them to remain proactive in maintaining regulatory standards before official inspections take place.
“Healthcare providers must embrace internal checks. Deliver quality care first, and then inspections will simply be a formality,” she advised.
Furthermore, Dr. Idowu urged professional associations to take a more active role in disciplinary actions against practitioners who violate standards. She stressed that self-regulation is essential for maintaining public trust and confidence in the healthcare system.
“When practitioners violate standards, their associations must act swiftly to hold them to account,” she said.
Dr. Idowu also emphasized the importance of patient involvement in demanding excellent care. She encouraged patients to speak out and report facilities that fail to meet the required standards.
“Quality healthcare is everyone’s right. People shouldn’t stay silent when they receive poor service. They should report their concerns to HEFAMAA or the Ministry of Health,” she said.
The meeting highlighted the collective responsibility of all stakeholders; healthcare providers, professional bodies, government agencies and the general public in ensuring that Lagos State’s healthcare system meets the highest standards of quality and safety.
