By Sylvia Akpan
The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed the Health Quackery (Prohibition) Bill, 2026, a landmark legislation aimed at curbing the activities of unqualified medical practitioners and strengthening healthcare regulation across the state.
The bill, titled “A Law to Prohibit Quackery Practices in the Health Sector of Cross River State, Establish the Health Monitoring Task Force, and for Other Related Matters,” was sponsored by the Deputy Leader of the House and Member representing Abi State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta.
The legislation was passed after lawmakers considered and adopted the report of the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security before its third reading during plenary.
Presenting the committee’s report, Chairman of the committee and Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hillary Ekpang Bisong (Boki II), said the proposed law is designed to eliminate quackery in the health sector, strengthen regulatory oversight, and safeguard the lives of residents.
According to Bisong, the committee conducted a public hearing where health professionals, civil society organizations and members of the public overwhelmingly supported the bill.
He explained that the legislation became necessary due to the increasing activities of fake and unqualified medical practitioners whose actions have resulted in wrong diagnoses, poor treatment, preventable deaths and a growing loss of public confidence in healthcare services.
He informed that his committee reviewed the bill and expanded it from three parts and ten sections to four parts and fifteen sections to make it more comprehensive. It further recommended that enforcement of the law should align with existing national laws regulating medical and allied health professions.
During debate, lawmakers commended the committee for its thorough work, describing the bill as a timely intervention that would enhance healthcare delivery and protect residents from unsafe medical practices.
The Speaker, Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem, praised the lawmakers who initiated the bill, describing it as one of the landmark private members’ bills of the 10th Assembly and a demonstration of the Assembly’s commitment to people-centered legislation.
Following clause-by-clause consideration in the Committee of the Whole, the House unanimously adopted the committee’s report.
The Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Bassey Asuquo subsequently moved a motion for the bill to be read the third time, which was seconded by the Deputy Leader, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta and approved through a voice vote.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache, the Speaker declared the bill read for the third time and passed into law. He directed that the clean copy of the bill be transmitted to the Governor for assent in line with the legislative process.
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