The Cross River State Government has declared zero tolerance for unlicensed and unauthorised medical practice, vowing decisive action against individuals or organisations operating outside the law in both the public and private health sectors.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, on Monday warned that the state will no longer condone quackery in any form. He cited the recent arrest of 10 herbal practitioners in Calabar, noting that they illegally mounted a herbal medicine outreach at the Christmas Village, Calabar Municipal Secretariat, without the requisite approvals or licences.

Dr. Ayuk stressed that no practitioner, whether orthodox or traditional, has the right to establish a medical facility or outreach anywhere in the state without proper assessment, clearance and authorisation from the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Health. He described such illegal activities as dangerous and reckless, with the potential to cause severe health complications, including liver and kidney failure, and avoidable deaths, due to the use of unvalidated drugs and procedures.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the state’s resolve to eradicate quackery from the health sector, announcing that the Health Quality and Anti-Quackery Task Force will be fully strengthened in the coming year to intensify surveillance, enforcement and prosecution of offenders. He added that the ongoing finalisation of the bill establishing a State Anti-Quackery Agency will provide a stronger legal framework to decisively tackle the menace.

Dr. Ayuk also issued a firm caution to media organisations, urging them to refrain from promoting or airing medical activities without prior clearance from the State Ministry of Health, warning that such publicity often emboldens quacks and exposes citizens to grave risks.

He further warned landlords, including local government authorities, not to lease properties for medical services without the Ministry of Health’s clearance, stressing that anyone found aiding or abetting illegal medical practice will be held accountable.

“The health and lives of Cross Riverians are non-negotiable,” the Commissioner declared, adding that the government will enforce existing laws to their fullest extent to protect the public from medical fraud and abuse.