EDOHERMA at Five Months: Edo Residents Told to Verify Health Facilities as Agency Tightens Grip on Quackery
The Edo State Health Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has called on residents to verify the registration status of private healthcare facilities before seeking medical treatment, as the agency marks five months since commencing operations.
The agency said the move is part of ongoing efforts to protect citizens from unsafe and substandard healthcare services while strengthening public confidence in Edo State’s healthcare system through effective regulation and monitoring.
Chief Executive Officer of EDOHERMA, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide, made the call in a statement commemorating the agency’s five-month milestone. She explained that the agency was established following the signing of the Edo State Health Regulation and Monitoring Agency Bill into law by Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo on December 5, 2025.
According to her, the law empowers EDOHERMA to regulate all establishments where health-related procedures are carried out, closing long-standing regulatory gaps that previously enabled unregistered operators and unqualified individuals to offer healthcare services without proper oversight.
Dr. Urhoghide urged residents to confirm the registration status of private hospitals, clinics and other healthcare establishments by using the Health Facilities Search tool available on the agency’s official website before receiving treatment.
She stressed that patronising only registered and compliant facilities is essential to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of patients.
“No resident should walk into a private healthcare facility that cannot be found on the EDOHERMA register. Choosing a registered and compliant facility protects patients and their families from unsafe and substandard care,” she stated.
The EDOHERMA boss also warned that the agency would intensify its crackdown on unverified health advertisements, particularly those promoted by self-acclaimed traditional healers and unregistered practitioners on radio and television stations.
She advised broadcast organisations to insist on proof of EDOHERMA approval before airing health-related advertisements, describing the measure as a critical step towards eliminating quackery and sanitising the healthcare sector.
Dr. Urhoghide further disclosed that Edo State is positioning itself as a preferred destination for medical tourism through the enforcement of higher healthcare standards, deployment of functional medical equipment and strict verification of healthcare professionals.
She noted that EDOHERMA remains a key component of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda, particularly under the health pillar, which is focused on improving healthcare delivery alongside the administration’s priorities in security, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture, and education.
Reflecting on the agency’s achievements over the past five months, Dr. Urhoghide described the milestone as evidence of the Edo State Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening healthcare regulation, enhancing patient safety and ensuring that residents have access to safe, quality and professionally regulated healthcare services across the state.