By Jariatu S. Bangura
Police officer escorting EcoMed’s representative
Representative of EcoMed’s before the committee pleading for more time
In a decisive move, the Parliamentary Health Committee, chaired by Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, has recommended the immediate closure of EcoMed Medical Center, a leading diagnostic facility in Sierra Leone.
During a recent session, the committee detained a representative of EcoMed’s management for several hours. The individual was later released with instructions to appear before the committee, along with relevant documents and senior management staff, on Wednesday, 26th February 2025.
Hon. Songa expressed frustration over EcoMed’s failure to provide the requested documentation, stating, “We gave you ten days to compile all your documents, but you are still not ready. Those documents should be readily available for audits and inspections. Instead, you are here arguing with us.”
She emphasized that the committee had sent a letter on 7th February, which EcoMed acknowledged receiving on the 9th. Despite this, the required documents were not provided. The EcoMed representative pleaded for an additional 72 hours to respond, citing that some documents were beyond their purview as they are not a teaching hospital.
However, Hon. Songa remained resolute, stating, “We wrote you a letter in accordance with our parliamentary powers. Documents should be ready for inspection at any time, not compiled upon request. Due to these issues, we are requesting the temporary closure of EcoMed.”
She further instructed the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary to issue the closure letter immediately and announced plans to personally verify compliance.
EcoMed Medical Center, located at 19 Off Upper Kingharman Road, Brookfields, Freetown, is renowned for offering advanced medical diagnostics, including MRI, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and ECG services.
This recent development raises concerns about the availability of essential diagnostic services in Sierra Leone, as EcoMed is among the few facilities equipped with such advanced technology.
