Reps move to punish hospitals that delay or refuse emergency care
- A bill in the House of Representatives would set strict timelines for emergency treatment in Nigerian hospitals.
- Hospitals that refuse, delay or obstruct emergency care could lose their licences or pay penalties.
- The bill, sponsored by Rep Akin Rotimi, passed its second reading on Wednesday.
The House of Representatives has taken a first step towards punishing hospitals that turn away or delay patients in emergencies, with a bill that could suspend or withdraw the licences of offending facilities.
The bill, which passed its second reading on Wednesday, seeks to amend the National Health Act, 2014. It was sponsored by Akin Rotimi, the member representing Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency of Ekiti State.
Under the proposal, a hospital must start assessing a patient (triage) within 15 minutes of arrival and begin basic stabilisation within 30 minutes. Where a life-threatening condition is found, life-saving treatment must start immediately, regardless of administrative procedures such as payment.
Hospitals would also have to give an emergency patient a bed within two hours where one is available. If no bed is free, the facility must begin stabilising the patient and start a referral within two hours of arrival, or immediately once the patient is stable enough to move.
Transport for a referral must be arranged within 30 minutes of the decision, and the transfer completed within three hours, except where circumstances beyond the hospital's control prevent it.
Why it matters to ordinary Nigerians
Many Nigerian families have stories of rushing a sick or injured relative to a hospital and being told to pay first, or that no bed is available, or that the patient must be taken elsewhere. The bill's sponsor said this is exactly the problem the amendment targets.
"In a medical emergency, time is the difference between life and death," Rotimi told lawmakers, pointing to administrative bottlenecks, demands for payment before treatment, unavailable beds and poorly coordinated referrals.
Section 20 of the National Health Act already bars health workers and facilities from refusing emergency treatment. Independent reported that the section prescribes a fine of ₦100,000, up to six months in prison, or both. Rotimi argued that clearer standards and stronger enforcement are still needed.
The bill also allows trained and certified nurses to carry out triage where no doctor is available, and requires the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to jointly develop a national emergency care curriculum. Emergency care workers would be retrained and recertified at least every 18 months.
Hospitals that refuse, delay or obstruct emergency care could face financial penalties, suspension of their operating licences and, for repeat offences, closure or withdrawal of the licence. Health professionals who wilfully refuse or abandon emergency patients could face criminal sanctions and disciplinary action.
The proposal also protects workers who act in good faith, properly document resource limits and follow referral procedures. Patients or their representatives could sue for compensation where injury, disability or death results from a breach.
What happens next
The bill now moves to the committee stage, where lawmakers will examine it clause by clause before it returns to the House. It would also need to pass the Senate and be signed by the President before becoming law.
Whether the timelines can be met will depend on the capacity of hospitals, the number of trained staff and equipment available, and how well regulators monitor compliance.
