EcoMed Hospital Faces Closure Over Documentation Issues
By Benjamin S Conteh
Freetown, February 19, 2025. The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Health, chaired by Hon. Wuyata Songa, has issued a stern warning to EcoMed Hospital, threatening potential closure due to its failure to provide crucial documents requested as part of an ongoing parliamentary inquiry.
The committee had formally requested specific documentation from EcoMed’s administration in a letter dated February 7, 2025, instructing them to submit the required paperwork within 72 hours. However, the hospital’s representatives only received the letter ten days later, leading to further delays in compiling the necessary documents.
During a tense hearing on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, EcoMed’s representatives admitted that the requested documents were still being prepared, prompting frustration from committee members. Hon. Songa, visibly displeased with the delay, reminded the hospital officials that compliance with parliamentary directives is mandatory and that such negligence could have serious repercussions.
“This is contempt of Parliament,” she declared, emphasizing that repeated instances of non-compliance would not be tolerated.
Despite EcoMed’s attempts to explain the situation, committee members were unwilling to accept further excuses. Hon. Songa pointed out that this was not the first instance of non-compliance by the hospital, stressing that the committee had already provided ample time for them to meet their obligations.
“We gave you ten days,” she stated firmly. “You have failed to provide the documentation as requested, and this is unacceptable.”
The committee warned that if the documents were not submitted within the next seven days, further action would be taken, including formally notifying the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and considering a temporary closure of hospital departments directly linked to the inquiry.
This development underscores the critical role of parliamentary committees in enforcing accountability and transparency, particularly in the health sector, where public safety is a major concern. The coming days will be crucial in determining EcoMed’s fate, as failure to comply with the committee’s demands could lead to serious operational consequences for the hospital.
