HEFAMAA declares war on quackery with launch of new QR Code System

In a bold step to improve healthcare delivery and combat quackery, the Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has launched the pilot phase of its QR Code Sticker Initiative across both public and private health facilities in the state.

The initiative is designed to enhance patient safety, promote transparency, and drive continuous quality improvement, while also ensuring that critical information about health facilities is readily accessible to the public.

Speaking on the development, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, stated that with a simple smartphone scan, members of the public could now instantly access verified information about any registered health facility in Lagos State.

Idowu outlined the data accessible through the QR codes to include: Facility Name, Address, Phone Number, Registration Number, Facility Category, and Accredited Services.

“Other information,” she added, “are: License Renewal Status, Operation Hours, Contact Person, Service Rating, and Feedback Option.”

She explained that the initiative would not only empower patients to make informed choices about where to seek medical attention, but also offer a direct channel for providing feedback to HEFAMAA regarding the quality of services received.

“By digitizing and publicly displaying these key details, HEFAMAA aims to curb the growing menace of quackery and unethical practices, particularly among unaccredited private providers operating beyond their approved scope,” she said.

Idowu stressed that the move is in line with the agency’s core mandate to monitor and accredit all public and private health facilities in Lagos.

“This innovation is a game-changer in our mission to uphold the highest standards of healthcare delivery in Lagos,” she noted.

“We are reinforcing our zero-tolerance policy on quackery and sharp practices by ensuring that only duly registered and accredited facilities are permitted to operate,” she added.

She further assured residents of Lagos that the agency remains committed to protecting public health and encouraged them to always verify a facility’s status before receiving care.

She also urged them to take advantage of the feedback option to report any unethical or substandard practices.

Idowu reiterated HEFAMAA’s resolve to continue deploying smart digital tools and enforcing strict regulatory standards to ensure that only competent, ethical, and accredited health providers deliver care to Lagosians.