Illegal practice of medicine in Borgou: Several closed treatment rooms

Dozens of illegal medical practices are closed and those responsible arrested. This is the result of an operation carried out by the Departmental Directorate of Health of Borgou in the municipalities of Parakou, N’Dali, Tchaourou and other localities last week.

Despite the regulations in force, some healthcare practices continue to operate happily illegally. Thus, thanks to the vigilance and the descent of the Departmental Directorate of Health of Borgou on the ground last week, according to Le Matinal, several of them have been identified and closed in Parakou, N'Dali and Tchaourou, Zongo, Badeparou, bye, Kérah, Neighborhood Gah, Gunirou and many other places visited.

The reasons according to the same source are among others, lack of authorization, illegal practice of medicine, the fake diploma, falsification of ministerial order, non-registration of nursing staff to the order and not to authorize to practice in private practice then inadequate infrastructures. Investigations are underway to get their hands on the promoters who took the key to the fields.

“We have noticed that housing transformed into care units leaves a lot to be desired. The evil, the promoters we met did not have authorization at all and even less the exercise in private clients”, hinted Akim Gouda, coordinating doctor of the Parakou-N'Dali health zone who is sorry for the defective state of the executives who provide care.

It invites people to go to approved public and private health centers for their various treatments.. “We have public health centers that exist with qualified personnel and qualified medicines. So we invite people to visit public and private health centers that meet the standards.”, he launched before adding “I think, when we see a structure even if only from the physical aspect we know if it is serious or not. So we have a duty not to be treated by anyone. Because our life depends on it.

As a reminder, It's been since 2018 that the Beninese government is trying to get rid of illegal healthcare practices. At the time,  the 25 July 2018, the Head of State signed Decree No. 2018-342 of 25 July suspending the issuance of authorizations and revoking authorizations for the exercise of the medical and paramedical professions as private clients by a civil servant or contractual public employee.

Bachir ISSA