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The Parliament of Sierra Leone has ordered the immediate closure of EcoMed Medical Center following its failure to comply with regulatory requirements set by the Parliamentary Health Committee.
The directive came after a tense session chaired by Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, where EcoMed’s management was questioned over its inability to produce crucial operational documents.
The committee had previously given the medical facility ten days to provide the requested documents, yet EcoMed failed to meet the deadline.
Expressing frustration over the institution’s non-compliance, Hon. Songa stated, “These documents should be readily available for audits and inspections, not compiled only when requested. This disregard for parliamentary authority and due process is unacceptable.”
The Health Committee initially sent an official notice on February 7, which EcoMed acknowledged receiving on February 9. Despite this, the institution failed to present the necessary paperwork.
A representative from EcoMed pleaded for an additional 72 hours, arguing that some documents were beyond their purview since the facility is not a teaching hospital.
Unmoved by the request, Hon. Songa insisted that EcoMed had sufficient time to comply and directed the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary to issue a closure order with immediate effect. She also announced plans to conduct a physical inspection to ensure compliance.
EcoMed Medical Center, located at 19 Off Upper Kingharman Road, Brookfields, Freetown, is one of the country’s leading diagnostic facilities, offering MRI, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and ECG services.
The shutdown raises concerns about access to advanced medical diagnostics in Sierra Leone, as EcoMed is among the few facilities equipped with such technology.
Salome nar Kontri