The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to make it compulsory for public and private hospitals across Nigeria to provide emergency medical treatment, prescribing up to six months’ imprisonment for facilities and individuals who violate its provisions
The proposed legislation also prescribes a fine of up to ₦300,000, imprisonment for six months, or both, for anyone convicted of denying emergency medical treatment.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central), seeks to amend the National Health Act, 2014, to establish mandatory emergency medical treatment standards and referral protocols in healthcare facilities.
Titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Health Act, 2014 to Provide for Emergency Medical Treatment Standards and Referral Protocols in Healthcare Facilities; and for Related Matters, 2026” (SB. 759), it was referred to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative action, with a directive to report back in four weeks.
Under the proposed amendment, no healthcare provider, health worker or medical establishment would be allowed to deny anyone emergency medical treatment for any reason.
It also requires healthcare professionals to commence life-saving interventions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management and bleeding control, immediately after identifying a life-threatening condition.
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