Declining Trust in Nigeria's Healthcare System Alarmed

Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Abuja and a Professor of Medical Law, expressed serious concerns regarding the declining public trust in Nigeria's healthcare system during the 52nd Inaugural Lecture titled “Restoring the Dignity of the Patient.” He attributed this decline to the failure to hold medical practitioners and healthcare institutions accountable for negligence and condemned the practice of requiring police reports from emergency victims before receiving medical attention, labeling it unlawful and inhumane.

Prof. Abugu highlighted a significant gap between Nigeria's legal framework, which prohibits the denial of emergency medical treatment, and its practical implementation, leading to avoidable deaths.

He referenced the case of Greatness Olorunfemi, who died in October 2023 after being denied prompt care at Maitama District Hospital. He emphasized that public trust is essential for an effective healthcare system and criticized the abandonment of patients due to financial constraints, which undermines the constitutional right to life.