In response to increasing concerns over healthcare facilities refusing to treat gunshot victims, the Nigerian government has again mandated that all public and private hospitals in Nigeria must provide immediate care to such victims.
This is regardless of whether they present a police clearance or not.
The directive, issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Saturday, aims to address the rising number of deaths caused by hospitals rejecting gunshot victims.
The Ministry’s statement, titled ‘Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities on The Gunshot Act 2017’, was signed by the Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe.
It highlighted that numerous complaints had been received regarding the rejection of gunshot victims by hospitals, which has tragically led to fatalities.
The directive follows an order from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate.
“In recent times, society has witnessed a rise in the loss of lives as a result of refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot victims of chance who do not present police reports,” the statement noted.
The Ministry emphasised that gunshot injuries are medical emergencies requiring urgent attention to prevent death.
It revealed concerns over the slow or non-compliance by many medical facilities in providing the compulsory treatment and care for gunshot victims.
“The Act further goes further to stipulate that; every hospital in Nigeria whether private shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance,” the statement stated.
It also called on security agents and the public to assist in ensuring that gunshot victims are quickly taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.
The Ministry voiced its alarm at the increasing frequency of gunshot incidents and the refusal of some health facilities to treat victims without police reports.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Minister, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, therefore calls on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death,” the statement added.
To ensure adherence to the law, the Ministry said it is putting measures in place and urged the Nigerian police to enforce the provisions of the 2017 Act.
It reassured health facilities that treating gunshot victims is not illegal.