The Kano State Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA) has shut down 37 private hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the state over various regulatory violations in the past 18 months.
The Acting Director-General of PHIMA, Hajiya Khadija Sa’id, disclosed this, stating that 16 facilities were closed in 2025, while 21 others were shut down between January and July 2026 for failing to comply with government regulations governing healthcare delivery.
She said more than 1,405 private health facilities are currently registered with the agency across Kano State.
According to her, PHIMA is responsible for facilitating, regulating and supervising healthcare services provided by private health institutions, with the authority to sanction or shut down facilities found violating established regulations.
Khadija explained that the agency carries out routine and supportive supervision to ensure compliance among private healthcare providers.
She said routine supervision is conducted by teams comprising PHIMA officials and ad hoc personnel with relevant medical expertise, while supportive supervision involves specialist doctors, lawyers, representatives of the state Ministry of Health, security agencies and community leaders.
The Acting Director-General said registered facilities include clinics, polyclinics, hospitals, specialist hospitals, nursing homes, clinic/maternity centres and maternity hospitals, noting that each category has a clearly defined scope of services it is permitted to provide.
She warned that facilities must not offer services beyond their approved scope, stressing that it was unlawful for a clinic, for instance, to provide services designated for a polyclinic or hospital.
“Our concern is to ensure good service delivery to the people. We do not want a situation where the health of the people will be compromised,” she said.
Khadija also disclosed that PHIMA would soon publish updated information on all registered private health institutions through its newly redesigned website.
She said the platform, which would be managed by the agency’s database unit, would strengthen regulatory monitoring and provide the government with current information on private healthcare facilities across the state.
According to her, the database would capture critical information, including daily patient attendance, maternal mortality and infectious diseases affecting communities.
She said reliable data would enable the government to identify emerging health challenges and take timely measures to address them.
The PHIMA chief further disclosed that the agency regularly organises capacity-building workshops for its staff and owners of private health institutions to familiarise them with government guidelines, regulations and policies governing private healthcare operations.
She said the initiative was aimed at improving compliance and ensuring that residents of Kano State have access to safe and quality healthcare services from private providers.
