The Healthcare Providers’ Association of Nigeria has rejected the proposed National Health Facility Regulatory Agency Bill, warning that it could duplicate existing regulation and raise healthcare costs.
National President Austine Aipoh said the association supported stronger standards, patient safety and accountability but opposed the creation of another federal regulatory body.
He argued that Nigeria already had numerous regulators, including the Federal and State Ministries of Health, the National Health Insurance Authority and professional councils for doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other practitioners.
According to him, the proposed agency could subject health facilities to multiple inspections, accreditations, certifications, fees and overlapping enforcement actions.
Aipoh said the additional compliance burden would eventually be transferred to patients through higher charges.
He also criticized a provision allowing the proposed agency to use private franchisees for inspections, saying it suggested that the institution would begin operations without adequate internal capacity.
The association urged the National Assembly to withdraw the bill in its present form.
It recommended strengthening and coordinating existing regulatory institutions, harmonizing their responsibilities and investing in digital systems, inspection capacity and quality improvement.
HACPAN said Nigeria needed better coordination among current regulators rather than another layer of bureaucracy.
The association represents private hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies and maternity facilities across the country.
