The Bauchi State House of Assembly has held a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Bauchi State Private Health Institutions Regulatory Agency, known as BAPHIRA, to strengthen the regulation of private healthcare facilities and curb quackery in the state.
The proposed legislation, titled: “The Bauchi State Private Health Institutions Regulatory Agency Bill, 2026,” seeks to establish a regulatory framework for the registration, licensing, inspection and monitoring of private health institutions across the state.
Declaring the public hearing open on Wednesday, the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the proposed law was aimed at protecting patients and ensuring that healthcare providers operated according to established standards.
He said the responsibility of the government to protect lives extended beyond the construction of hospitals and provision of medical equipment to ensuring the quality of care, competence of healthcare personnel and accountability of health institutions.
Sulaiman said, “The subject before us touches every family and every community. When a parent takes a sick child to a hospital, when a woman seeks maternity care, or when an accident victim requires urgent treatment, they place their lives in the hands of those providing care.
“They do so with the expectation that the facility is suitable, the personnel are qualified, the equipment is adequate and the treatment offered is safe.
“That trust places a serious responsibility on healthcare providers. It equally places an obligation on the government to establish and enforce standards that protect patients,” he said.
The Speaker commended the state government under Governor Bala Mohammed for its efforts in revitalising primary healthcare, improving health infrastructure, strengthening human resources and financing healthcare services.
He said the proposed agency would complement the administration’s efforts by strengthening the regulation of private health institutions.
While acknowledging the contributions of private healthcare providers to service delivery, employment generation and investment, Sulaiman expressed concern over the existence of unregistered facilities, unqualified personnel, unsuitable premises and unsafe medical practices.
He said such practices exposed patients to avoidable harm and undermined public confidence in the healthcare profession.
According to him, the proposed agency will be responsible for registering and licensing private health institutions, setting and enforcing minimum standards for infrastructure, personnel, equipment and services, as well as conducting inspections and accreditation.
The agency will also have the responsibility to take enforcement action against facilities that violate prescribed standards, including closure where necessary, and maintain a comprehensive database of legitimate private healthcare providers.
Sulaiman, however, stressed the need for clear provisions to guide the agency’s operations and ensure that its regulatory powers were exercised fairly and responsibly.
He said the legislation should clearly define the institutions and services under the agency’s jurisdiction while establishing effective collaboration with existing health authorities and professional regulatory bodies.
The Speaker added that transparent licensing requirements, clear inspection criteria, proportionate sanctions and appropriate avenues for appeals would be necessary to ensure fairness in the implementation of the law.
He said, “Effective regulation requires a balance between firm enforcement and fair treatment. Licensing requirements should be understandable, inspection criteria should be transparent, and regulatory decisions should be properly documented.
“Where a facility poses an immediate danger to patients, the relevant authority must be able to act promptly. Where deficiencies can safely be corrected, the framework should support timely corrective action under proper supervision.”
He further emphasised the need to protect patients receiving treatment in facilities facing suspension or closure, noting that regulatory decisions should consider continuity of care and safe referral arrangements where applicable.
Sulaiman urged stakeholders to make recommendations on infection prevention, medical waste disposal, emergency preparedness, patient records, data protection and mechanisms for handling complaints against healthcare providers.
He also called for special consideration of women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons and residents of underserved communities who might face difficulties accessing quality healthcare or seeking redress.
On the cost of compliance, the Speaker urged the stakeholders to examine registration fees and other regulatory requirements, particularly their potential effects on smaller healthcare facilities serving rural communities.
He said the regulatory framework should protect patients without imposing unnecessary administrative burdens on responsible healthcare providers.
The Speaker also stressed that the proposed agency must be accountable, adding that its credibility would depend on competent personnel, ethical leadership, transparent procedures and adequate operational support.
He assured stakeholders that the House would maintain oversight of the implementation of any law emerging from the legislative process.
Sulaiman urged healthcare professionals, private facility owners, regulatory bodies, civil society organisations, community representatives and development partners to submit recommendations that would strengthen the proposed legislation.
He said the submissions would help the lawmakers identify gaps, clarify provisions and develop a legal framework that protects patients, supports responsible healthcare providers and strengthens public confidence in the state’s health system.