Police call for cross-checking of clinics operating in residential areas

JUBA – Former South Sudan police spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Justine Bola has raised concerns over growing deaths and wrong drug administrations in clinics, drug stores, and hospitals operating in residential areas.

Speaking during a ceremony marking the end of his duties in the police media department, Justine said the police have received reports of patients dying in clinics and.

He said that while some of these cases are resolved locally, they may involve criminal elements that go unreported to law enforcement agencies.

“These cases are happening frequently. Sometimes when an incident happens, people rush and then without taking precautions, they take the victim immediately to the hospital,” he said.

“We raised the concern to the Minister of Health that we need to cross-check these clinics in residential areas because there are cases whereby sometimes, they are resolved at their locality, but there is some criminal aspect of it which is not reported to the police nor we being involved in those matters,” he added.

The outgoing police spokesperson called on the national ministry of health to conduct an operation for these clinics within residential areas to assess their credibility and operations.

For his part, deputy police spokesperson James Dak Karlo said clinics and pharmacies need to acquire a medical license from the medical commissions in order to operate, adding a need for a massive checking in the city.

“This issue is also to be addressed again to the minister of health to enlighten these private clinics and private pharmacies that whoever operates there must have a license from the medical commission,” he added.

The call comes after a member of parliament raised concerns in the August house after 53-year-old Mary Sunday, a staff of Juba City Council, passed away after a drug administration in a clinic located in a residential area.

Peter Lomude Francis, a member of parliament representing Yei River County under the flagship of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, urged the government to regulate clinics and their staff in order for them to continue operating in the country.