By Samson Obande,  Lafia

The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Private Health Facilities and Institutions Regulatory Agency, NASPHFIRA, Dr. Nana Awaya Emeribe, has called for a robust partnership with the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency, NASHIA, to enforce standards in the private health sector and stamp out quackery in the state.

Dr. Emeribe made the call during a familiarization visit to the Executive Secretary of NASHIA, Dr. Yahaya Bawa Ubam, in his office in Lafia on Monday.

The visit, which came after her courtesy calls to the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS, and the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, is aimed at strengthening inter-agency collaboration between the two sister agencies under the State Ministry of Health.

Speaking on the rationale for the visit, Dr. Emeribe said the collaboration would strengthen referral systems and ensure that only accredited and licensed private health facilities benefit from the state health insurance scheme.

“NASPHFIRA was established in 2026 through the initiative of the current administration led by Engr. A.A. Sule. The agency was created out of necessity due to the increasing number of health facilities in the state. We are here to build relationships with NASHIA, our sister agency, to foster partnerships and support our activities,” she stated.

She explained that the core mandate of NASPHFIRA is to regulate private health facilities including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, schools of nursing, dental clinics and specialist hospitals.

She stressed the need for both agencies to conduct joint inspections of health facilities rather than working in silos.

“Since we assumed office, private facilities have been seeking our approval, as NASHIA requires this step before they sign up and accredit their health facilities. This collaboration will help us maintain standards,” she noted.

Dr. Emeribe cited a 2016 survey which estimated over 600 private health facilities in Nasarawa State, a figure expected to rise substantially by 2027, underscoring the need for reliable data and enforcement.

“Additionally, NASHIA will support us in addressing any unwholesome practices detected within these facilities. NASPHFIRA has enforcement capabilities, along with penalties stipulated by law for any defaulters,” she added.

In his response, the Executive Secretary of NASHIA, Dr. Yahaya Bawa Ubam, said there was need to carefully examine the mandate of NASPHFIRA to avoid overlap with national regulatory councils and duplication of functions.

He described the partnership as timely, noting that NASHIA often faces challenges with reports of substandard services from some facilities.

“Currently, our primary course of action is to withdraw the registration of non-compliant facilities. However, with the enforcement capabilities provided by NASPHFIRA’s mandate, the two agencies can work together to enforce regulations more effectively, including the possibility of shutting down facilities that fail to meet required standards,” Dr. Ubam said.

Both agencies have agreed to set up a joint technical team to develop a framework for sustained collaboration.