LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Lagos State Government, through its Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), has issued a high-level caution to public health providers, including the General Hospital, Badagry, following a surge in reports of patients being denied essential medications.

The warning was delivered during a specialized Sensitization Campaign and Town Hall Meeting at the Badagry Local Government Secretariat. The event aimed to bridge the gap between regulatory oversight and the daily experiences of residents navigating the state’s healthcare landscape.

Systematic Failures in the State Health Insurance Scheme

At the heart of the crisis is the Ilera Eko (Lagos State Health Insurance) scheme. According to agency officials, a troubling pattern has emerged: patients complete their medical consultations only to be told at the hospital pharmacy that their prescribed drugs are “out of stock” or unavailable under their insurance coverage.

Dr. Abiola Idowu, HEFAMAA’s Permanent Secretary—represented by the Director of Research and Statistics, Dr. Olorunfemi Olonire—confirmed that these complaints are being taken with the utmost seriousness. The agency noted that informing an insured patient that more than 5% to 10% of their prescription is unavailable is a significant breach of protocol.

“When an insured patient visits a hospital and is told at the pharmacy that medications are unavailable, it undermines both the insurance scheme and patient safety,” Dr. Idowu stated. She further emphasized that such practices erode public trust in the state’s efforts to provide affordable healthcare for all.

To address these systemic gaps, HEFAMAA has committed to escalating these reports to the Lagos State Health Management Authority (LASHMA) and the Office of the Permanent Secretary for immediate administrative intervention and supply chain review.

Tech-Driven Accountability: The New QR Reporting System

In a move to empower citizens and ensure real-time oversight, HEFAMAA announced the nationwide rollout of a QR code reporting system across all public health facilities in Lagos. This digital intervention is designed to bypass bureaucratic delays and provide a direct line of communication between the patient and the regulator.

How the system works:

• Scanning for Feedback: Patients who encounter poor service or are denied covered medications can scan the QR codes strategically placed within hospital premises.

• Instant Reporting: The scan directs the user to a portal where they can lodge a formal complaint instantly.

• Swift Action: These submissions are reviewed and documented by HEFAMAA before being forwarded to the relevant authorities for disciplinary or corrective action.

This digital footprint is expected to provide the state government with data-driven insights into which specific facilities are consistently failing to meet medication availability standards.

The Danger of “Backdoor” Medicine

Beyond the issues within accredited hospitals, the agency raised a red flag regarding the rise of unlicensed medical practices within local communities. Dr. Idowu specifically warned against traditional healers and auxiliary nurses who have reportedly been administering intravenous (IV) medications and performing minor surgical procedures in residential settings.

The agency noted that these illegal practices often lead to severe complications. Frequently, when these unregulated procedures go wrong, the resulting medical emergencies are rushed to accredited facilities, where the complications are then unfairly blamed on the formal healthcare system.

“These unlicensed individuals expose patients to life-threatening risks,” the agency warned. HEFAMAA urged residents to patronize only facilities that display the agency’s official accreditation emblem and to report any suspicious medical activities within their neighborhoods.

Strengthening the Healthcare Hierarchy

The town hall meeting serves as a reminder of the complex hierarchy governing Lagos State’s health sector. By involving LASHMA and the Ministry of Health, HEFAMAA is signaling a multi-agency crackdown on inefficiency.

As the government pushes for “Universal Health Coverage,” the focus is shifting from merely enrolling citizens in insurance plans to ensuring that the quality of care—and the availability of the drugs they pay for—meets international standards.

The Badagry engagement is part of a broader state-wide strategy to ensure that no resident of Lagos is left behind due to administrative bottlenecks or the unprofessional conduct of health facility staff.