By Zainab Sani Shehu Kiru
Kano State Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA) has issued a strict directive banning the administration of Intravenous (IV) fluid infusions and blood transfusions at Patent Medicine Stores (Chemists) across the state.
A statement from the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Malama Fauziyya Habib Mahmoud, said Patent Medicine Stores were legally non-clinical retail outlets and were strictly not authorized to perform invasive medical procedures, administer IV drips, or conduct blood transfusions under any circumstances.
The statement reaffirmed the state government’s position, saying that the Acting Executive Secretary of the agency, Hajiya Khadijah Hussein Sa’id, stated the decision had aligned with the current state government vision of protecting the health and lives of the citizens of the state.
It said: “This decisive action aligns directly with the vision of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, which prioritizes a ‘Kano First’ approach across all sectors and places the ultimate priority on protecting the health and lives of our citizens.
“Under the leadership of the Honorable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, we are taking firm, uncompromising steps to eliminate illegal medical practices that jeopardize public safety.”
The agency gave key directives and public sanctions that strict penalties to any chemist or unauthorized facility caught administering IV drips or blood transfusions, would face immediate closure.
Under the directives and sanctions, it said the citizens of the state were urged to report illegal practices, adding that complaints must be submitted directly to the agency’s office at Magaji Rumfa, with supporting evidence such as photographs, receipts, or proof of service.
“This call was made at a workshop organized by the agency for proprietors and medical directors of private health facilities on data-driven documentation to safeguard citizens from unsafe and unhygienic practices.
“Blood transfusions and IV fluid therapies are restricted strictly to accredited hospital facilities under qualified medical supervision,” added the statement.
