The Senate is proposing a tough crackdown on hospitals that reject or delay treating emergency patients, with offenders facing up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.
The proposed law would compel public and private hospitals to attend to emergency patients within strict timelines, regardless of their financial status, social standing or ability to pay.
Under the bill, hospitals would be required to conduct initial assessments within 15 minutes of a patient’s arrival, begin basic stabilisation within 30 minutes and complete referrals to other medical facilities within three hours where necessary.
Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the bill seeks to amend the National Health Act, 2014, to introduce enforceable emergency treatment standards, mandatory training for healthcare workers and stricter referral procedures.
Leading the debate at Wednesday’s plenary, Yar’Adua said the proposed amendment was designed to tackle preventable deaths caused by delays, negligence and the rejection of patients in critical conditions.
He said emergency medical attention should be available to everyone, irrespective of wealth, influence or location.
The proposed legislation also mandates the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to jointly develop a standardised national emergency care curriculum.
Healthcare workers involved in emergency treatment would be required to undergo training and certification at intervals not exceeding 18 months.
Under the proposed provisions, hospitals must commence triage and initial assessment within 15 minutes of a patient’s arrival. Where a doctor is unavailable, a trained and certified nurse may conduct the assessment.
The bill further requires hospitals to begin basic stabilisation measures within 30 minutes, including oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, pain relief and preliminary diagnostic procedures.
Facilities would also be required to immediately carry out life-saving interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management and bleeding control once a life-threatening condition is identified.
For patients requiring admission, hospitals would have two hours to assign a bed, subject to availability.
Where no bed is available, the facility must stabilise the patient and begin referral arrangements within two hours of arrival or as soon as the patient is assessed and considered stable for transfer.
The proposed law also stipulates that ambulance dispatch or alternative transportation arrangements must commence within 30 minutes of a decision to refer a patient.
Yar’Adua said the proposed reforms were in line with international practices in countries including Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Supporting the bill, Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), said the legislation would help tackle avoidable deaths arising from road accidents, maternal emergencies and other medical crises.
Monguno lamented that some hospitals and healthcare providers abandon or turn away emergency patients, leading to deaths that could have been prevented with timely medical intervention.
He said introducing criminal liability for violations would compel healthcare facilities to take their emergency treatment responsibilities more seriously.
Under the proposed amendment, any person or healthcare facility found guilty of violating the emergency treatment provisions would face a fine of up to N300,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
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