By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Government has intensified efforts to sanitize the healthcare sector, as it directed all mortuary operators in the state to regularize their operations or face sanctions as part of measures aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance and curbing unethical practices in the handling of c0rpses.
The directive, issued through the Ministry of Health, specifically targets mortuary facilities operating without proper registration, those with expired licences, and hospitals offering mortuary services without independently registering their mortuary units as required by law.
According to a public notice signed by the Director of Medical Services in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwulobelu Ugochukwu, on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, the exercise is in line with the healthcare reform agenda of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration and the determination of the government to ensure that all healthcare-related services operate within approved standards.
The government explained that every mortuary facility in the state is expected to be duly registered with the Directorate of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Awka, irrespective of whether the parent hospital has already been registered.
The notice further directed operators whose licences have expired or are due for renewal to immediately commence the renewal process, while owners of facilities operating without approval were urged to regularize their status without further delay.
The state government noted that the ongoing exercise was not merely an administrative requirement but a critical component of broader efforts to improve oversight within the healthcare sector, strengthen public health safeguards, and ensure that mortuary services are conducted in accordance with established regulations.
The government expressed concern over reports of improper mortuary practices and other unlawful activities associated with the handling of corpses, emphasizing the need for stricter monitoring to protect public health and preserve professional standards.
It also highlighted the importance of maintaining accurate records of mortuary facilities across the state, noting that an updated database would enhance regulatory supervision, improve compliance monitoring, and facilitate more effective responses during public health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
According to the public notice issued over the weekend, the Ministry of Health, as part of the exercise, is currently updating its register of licensed mortuary facilities to ensure that only duly approved operators are allowed to continue providing such services within the state.
The government also gave a window period of up to June 5, 2026 to the affected operators to complete their registration and licence renewal processes, warning that enforcement and inspection activities will commence immediately after the deadline.
The Ministry stressed that any mortuary facility found to be operating illegally or in violation of relevant regulations after the expiration of the grace period would be subjected to sanctions in line with the provisions of the Public Health Law of Anambra State.
In various reactions that have trailed the move on different social media platforms, many netizens have described the development as part of Governor Soludo’s agenda to strengthen institutions, improve service delivery, and restore professionalism across critical sectors of the state and public service; while few others criticize the move as a misplacement of priority, arguing that the government should “focus on channeling its attention to more important things that bother the people of the state, than chasing after mortuary owners.”
