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Hospitals

Hospitals and healthcare workers could face up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of N300,000 or both for refusing emergency medical treatment under a proposed amendment to Nigeria’s National Health Act.

The proposed legislation, which seeks to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and establish clear treatment standards, has passed second reading in the Senate.

Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, the bill seeks to make emergency medical treatment compulsory across public and private healthcare facilities.

The measure is intended to address cases in which patients requiring urgent medical attention are allegedly turned away or denied treatment because of financial difficulties, administrative procedures or other circumstances.

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Under the proposed amendment, hospitals would be required to commence patient assessment and triage within 15 minutes of arrival at their emergency departments.

The legislation also proposes that basic stabilisation measures, including oxygen administration, intravenous fluids, pain relief and preliminary diagnostic procedures, should begin within 30 minutes.

Healthcare professionals would also be required to commence life-saving interventions immediately after identifying a life-threatening condition.

The bill further provides that patients requiring admission should be allocated hospital beds within two hours, subject to availability.

Where a facility lacks the capacity or available bed space to admit a patient, it would be required to provide immediate stabilisation and initiate arrangements for referral to another healthcare institution.

The proposed referral procedures also require hospitals to arrange ambulance dispatch or alternative transportation within 30 minutes after communicating a decision to transfer a patient.

Yar’Adua said the legislation would establish clear responsibilities for healthcare providers and reduce preventable deaths associated with delays in emergency medical attention.

The proposal also seeks to introduce mandatory emergency-care training and certification for healthcare workers, with periodic assessments to improve the quality of emergency services.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria are expected to jointly develop a standardised national emergency-care curriculum.

The proposed amendment would strengthen existing provisions under Section 20 of the National Health Act, 2014, which already prohibits healthcare providers from refusing emergency medical treatment.

The existing law prescribes a N100,000 fine, imprisonment for up to six months or both for offenders.

The Senate has referred the bill to the relevant committee for further legislative consideration, including a public hearing.

Until the amendment completes the legislative process and receives presidential assent, the proposed N300,000 penalty and additional treatment timelines will not become law.

The Traffic NG
Hospitals
Amarachi Ihesiulo

Ihesiulo Grace Amarachi is a Nigerian journalist, writer and media professional serving as the Editor-in-Chief of TheTraffic.NG, a digital news platform covering national and international affairs. Her editorial interests span politics, business, aviation, health, technology, entertainment, sports and social development. She is committed to credible journalism, insightful reporting and compelling storytelling that informs public discourse and keeps readers abreast of important developments in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

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