Court Upholds FCCPC's Authority Over Healthcare Complaints

On April 15, 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment affirming the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's (FCCPC) power to investigate complaints related to healthcare services. The case, filed by Life Bridge Medical Diagnostic Centre Ltd (suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1019/2021), challenged the FCCPC's jurisdiction, arguing that it should not act without the conclusion of concurrent jurisdiction arrangements with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Justice Emeka Nwite rejected this claim, stating that the FCCPC's mandate includes oversight of healthcare services under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018. The court emphasized that consumer satisfaction complaints fall within the FCCPC's jurisdiction, regardless of professional regulatory frameworks.

Additionally, the judgment clarified that ethical obligations of patient confidentiality do not override the statutory investigative powers of the FCCPC, which are exercised in the public interest. Tunji Bello, the FCCPC's Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, noted that the decision reinforces consumer rights within the healthcare sector.