By Isaac Akerele
The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to strongly enforce laws prohibiting hospitals from denying emergency care to accident or gunshot victims. Offending hospitals should face sanctions, the lawmakers said.
The House also urged the Health Ministry and regulators to decisively address this issue of hospitals refusing treatment to victims without police clearance.
These resolutions followed a motion by a member of the house, Hon. Odianosen Okojie on the need to address the issue of Health Facilities Refusing Treatment for Accident or Gunshot Patients without police reports, during Tuesdays plenary session.
As a result, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) was tasked with launching a public awareness campaign to educate on the need to prioritise immediate medical aid for such victims, regardless of police reports.
While Moving the motion, Hon. Okojie mentioned that Section 1 of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, mandates all hospitals to receive and treat gunshot victims, with or without clearance or upfront fees, only requiring police notification hours after treatment starts. Yet, cases of facilities denying emergency treatment persist.
The Act also imposes a 5-year jail terms or N500,000 fines on authorities whose inaction leads to preventable deaths of gunshot victims. Still denial of treatment remains an issue.
“Any authority or person whose omission results in the unnecessary death of a gunshot victim shall be liable to imprisonment for five years or a fine in the sum of N500, 000 or both” the Act Reads
“Immediate care is crucial for survival and recovery. Hospitals have an ethical and legal duty to save lives, no matter the situation,” he stated, adding that lack of explicit laws banning this refusal has allowed the unfair practice to continue
The House thus directed its Healthcare Services Committee to ensure compliance from stakeholders within four weeks. It also voted for sustained advocacy to protect the rights of vulnerable accident and gunshot victims.
