Senate Approves Emergency Care Bill for Timely Treatment

The Nigerian Senate approved the National Health Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (SB 759), sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua from Katsina Central. The legislation mandates that licensed healthcare facilities assess emergency patients within 15 minutes of arrival and begin stabilization within 30 minutes, with immediate life-saving interventions required for life-threatening situations.

The bill aims to establish enforceable emergency treatment standards and structured referral procedures, while imposing sanctions on healthcare facilities and personnel guilty of willful negligence. Concerns were raised regarding the bill's failure to address the denial of medical attention to gunshot victims due to the lack of police reports.

Yar’Adua emphasized that the first few minutes of emergency care are crucial for survival and that access to treatment should not depend on social status or financial capacity. The bill also seeks to protect healthcare workers acting in good faith while ensuring accountability for neglect.

Supporters of the bill included Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), while Senator Francis Faduyile cautioned against criminalizing healthcare workers without addressing systemic issues.