Hospital business is sensitive, it is important to provide necessary regulatory requirements when venturing into it. However, hospitals in Nigeria are regulated by the government agencies.
The following are measures and requirements for setting up a hospital in Nigeria:
LICENCES OR PERMITS
1. Business Registration: With the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
2. Practising License: Which is authorised by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
3. Authorization: The Federal Ministry of Health will have to confirm that you have the required qualifications that give you the legal right to operate a hospital in Nigeria.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/ STAFFING
1. Doctors: He/ she should have minimum educational qualification of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), and must have completed his/ her medical internship programme.
2. Nurses: He/ she should be a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
3. Staffing: Should be qualified professionals.
- One Medical Practitioner in-charge with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience.
- One Medical Practitioner per shift.
- One Registered Nurse in-charge of Nursing Services.
- One Registered Nurse/Midwife or Nurse officer per 8 in-patients beds per shift.
- One Laboratory Assistant/Technician.
- One Registered Pharmacist.
- Medical Records and Secretarial Staff.
- Ward Assistant or Aides (optional).
- Infrastructural Requirements
The minimum basic facility requirements according to the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) include:
BUILDING
Hospital building must have:
Out-Patient
1. Waiting / reception room of 4x3meters with sitting facilities, registration table.
2. Medical record facilities.
3. Consulting room (s) of 4x3meters with examination couches, wash-hand basin, towels and basic diagnostic tools.
4. Treatment room of 4x3metres with Instrument / drug cabinet, pedal bin and wash-hand basin and towels.
5. Toilet facilities with water closet.
6. Staff / cloak room.
7. Dispensing room with pharmacy technician dispensing or a registered Pharmacist.
8. Oxygen cylinder with gauge and mask and suction machine.
9. Other services - ambulance and fire extinguisher.
In-Patient
1. Lying-in ward with minimum distance of one meter between two adjoining beds of 1x3metres between two rows of beds.
2. Ward(s) with locker and over-bed table for each bed (separate Rooms for male and female patients).
3. Delivery rooms (where applicable) of 12 sq. meters.
4. First stage labour room (where applicable).
5. Suitably equipped theatre
6. Sluice room
- Toilet facilities - 1 water closet per 8 beds (separate for male and female).
- Bathroom facilities - 1 bathroom per 8 beds (separate for male and female).
7. Nurse bay.
EQUIPMENTS
Your hospital facility is expected to be equipped with:
1. Adequate and suitable theatre equipment/instruments for minor/ major surgeries.
2. Suction machine
3. Oxygen cylinder with gauge and mask
4. Anaesthetic machine (arrangement with Anaesthetist may be made to provide when needed
5. Operating lamp
6. Adequate delivery/ labour room equipment.
Other minimum facility requirements according to HEFAMAA include:
1. Clean and adequate water supply pipe borne, borehole water tank
2. Washable floors
3.Adequate drainage
4. Adequate ventilation
5. Adequate illumination.
6. Laundry
7. Kitchen
8. Fire extinguisher
Health Regulatory Authorities in Nigeria include
1. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
2. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)
3. Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN)
Note: Each state in the country has its own regulatory body for monitoring health facilities in its state. It is also important you comply with the regulatory requirements when starting a hospital business.
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