Busted: Cross River State Healthcare Delivery Taskforce uncovers fake surgery facility, arrests CEO, 3 others in Cross River
The Cross River State Taskforce on Quackery and Related Violation in the Healthcare delivery system has apprehended the Chief Medical Director of Life First Medical Center, Dr. Austin Adugba and three others over alleged fake surgeries and other illegal medical practices.
This was disclosed to newsmen during a press briefing at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar over the week by the Taskforce Director, Dr. David Ushie.
Dr. Ushie revealed that the suspects were handed over to Nigeria Police Force.
Dr Ushie maintains that Dr Adugba and 6 others allegedly conspired with the 3 unqualified persons otherwise referred to as quack doctors to carry out the fake surgeries on 9 patients among the 10 patients before the Taskforce visited the facilities.
Dr Ushie also disclosed that the said Dr Adugba has been engaging in the sharp practice of recruiting quacks over the years In partnership with the Village Head who owns the property, with the intent to perpetuate the illicit practice on the innocent patients who visited them.
Dr Ushie also stated that his leading task force has identified 22 cases and several culprits have been arrested and no fewer than13 uncertified healthcare facilities have been uncovered due to violation of available regulatory laws.
His words he said, “This briefing is about fake doctors operating in Aladim Community of Ogoja Local government area, it’s about the sad incident that tip-offered a tip-off concerning some wonder surgeons in the community”
“My team and I left Calabar by 12:30 AM of, Sept 8, 2022, to ensure the offenders did not escape as they usually did”.
“As we arrived in the w hours, we immediately contacted the Chairman of Council, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor and the DPO of Ceja and. Suppl Horsfall, who both confirmed the incidence.
“Our I destinations took us to Health Center Aladim, venue of the crime. After a full day interview and facility assessment, we made the following discoveries”.
”There were ten (10) patients on admission. Nine (9) of the ten patients had eleven (11) ‘surgeries’.
”Amongst the 9,3 patients who had four (4) ‘surgeries or ‘hernia’, the majority of the seven (7) had ‘surgeries’ for ‘appendectomies, one patient had two surgeries’ for ‘appendix’ (1) and ‘hernia’ (1)”
”At least 5 of the surgery recognizable as superficial skin cuts giving patients the false sense that they had surgery”
Dr. Ushie, therefore, advised the general public to desist from patronising uncertified health facilities and quack doctors in the state to avoid endangering their lives.
