Bauchi — Bauchi state government has sealed up five private clinics and refused to allow four others to operate in the state capital due to none performance and failure to satisfy some ethical requirements.

The state commissioner for Health Dr Muhammad Sani Malami explained this when he appeared before the House of Assembly committee on budget and appropriation to defend his ministry's 2013 budget proposal.

Malami said additional 286 medical students have been flown abroad for various medical studies and specialization to augment the existing personnel in the ministry.

The commissioner pointed out that the site for the specialist Hospital which is the current school of management and applied studies of the state polytechnic will be converted into a medical complex.

He said the complex will consist of a specialist hospital, college of nursing, cardiac centre to satisfy the medical requirement of the entire state.

The commissioner noted that construction of the specialist Hospital has reached 38 percent completion despite obstructions brought about by interference which delayed the take off of the project by about six month.

Chairman of the committee, Abdulqadir Dewu said despite shortage of releases the ministry had performed well and pledged the lawmakers' support to the ministry.