Lagos Warns Residents Against Unregistered Hospitals, Unveils Verification Barcode
Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has urged residents to avoid patronising unregistered hospitals and quack healthcare providers, warning that doing so endangers lives and undermines medical standards.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Abiola Idowu, issued the warning on Friday during a sensitisation programme at the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Secretariat, where residents were educated on the importance of seeking care only from accredited medical centres.
“Health is wealth. We must prioritise our health by visiting government-approved facilities,” Idowu said. “The Lagos State Government cares for its citizens, and only HEFAMAA-accredited health facilities guarantee safe and quality treatment.”
She revealed that to enhance transparency, the agency has launched a barcode verification system allowing patients to confirm a hospital’s registration status during visits.
Since its establishment in 2006, Idowu said over 4,000 healthcare facilities have been captured in HEFAMAA’s database.
Also speaking, Director of Administration and Human Resources at HEFAMAA, AbdulAzeez Jimoh, said the agency has imposed strict penalties for facilities that fail to comply with professional standards.
“Accredited facilities now serve as Lagos State’s healthcare representatives,” Jimoh explained. “Patients can scan the QR code to report misconduct or commend excellent service directly to HEFAMAA.”
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and strengthening trust in Lagos’s healthcare system through accountability and digital monitoring.
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