Senate Proposes Penalties for Hospitals on Emergency Care

The Nigerian Senate is reviewing an amendment to the National Health Act, 2014, which aims to impose a six-month jail term or a fine of up to N300,000 on hospitals and healthcare providers that do not comply with emergency treatment standards. Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the amendment mandates that hospitals must begin triage within 15 minutes, initiate basic stabilization within 30 minutes, and assign a bed within two hours if admission is necessary.

The Nigerian Medical Association, led by President Professor Afekhide Ernest Omoti, has criticized the proposal, arguing that criminalizing healthcare workers without addressing systemic deficiencies is unjust. They highlight issues such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient personnel, and the migration of healthcare professionals, which exacerbate the challenges faced by hospitals in Nigeria.

The association also pointed out the poor implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which is intended to support essential healthcare services.