Senate Proposes Six-Month Jail Term, ₦300,000 Fine for Hospitals Rejecting Emergency Patients

The Senate is considering a proposed amendment to the National Health Act, 2014, seeking to impose up to six months’ imprisonment, a ₦300,000 fine, or both on hospitals and healthcare providers who violate prescribed emergency treatment standards.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, is aimed at strengthening emergency healthcare delivery, preventing avoidable deaths and ensuring that patients receive prompt medical attention regardless of the status of the healthcare facility.

Under the proposed legislation, both public and private hospitals would be required to assess emergency patients within 15 minutes of arrival, commence initial stabilisation within 30 minutes and complete necessary referrals within three hours.

The bill also mandates healthcare facilities to immediately provide life-saving interventions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), airway management and bleeding control, once a life-threatening condition is identified.

Other essential stabilisation measures would include oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, pain management and preliminary diagnostic procedures.

It further requires hospitals to provide admission beds within two hours, subject to availability. Where beds are unavailable, facilities must stabilise patients and initiate referral arrangements within two hours or as soon as the patients are considered fit for transfer.

Hospitals would also be required to dispatch ambulances or arrange alternative transportation within 30 minutes of making a referral decision.

In addition, the proposed amendment directs the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to develop a national emergency care curriculum.

Healthcare workers involved in emergency services would also be required to undergo relevant training and certification at least once every 18 months.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish clearer responsibilities for healthcare providers and strengthen compliance with emergency treatment procedures across Nigeria’s public and private healthcare sectors.