Nigeria proposes six months in prison for hospitals refusing emergencies
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigeria’s Senate is considering a bill providing up to six months in prison for hospitals that refuse emergency patients, as well as a maximum fine of 300,000 naira. The bill would also require assessment within 15 minutes and initial stabilisation within 30 minutes, reports Punch.
The Nigerian Senate is considering a bill providing for up to six months in prison and a maximum fine of 300,000 naira for hospitals and healthcare professionals that fail to comply with new emergency care standards. The bill was introduced by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, who defended the measure during Wednesday’s plenary session, reports Punch.
The bill would require public and private facilities to assess every emergency patient within 15 minutes of arrival, begin stabilisation within 30 minutes and arrange a transfer to another facility within three hours if necessary. Hospitals would also have to assign a bed within two hours when admission is required, subject to availability.
The reform would notably provide for the administration of oxygen, intravenous fluids and painkillers, as well as preliminary examinations within 30 minutes. In life-threatening cases, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management and haemorrhage control would have to begin immediately, according to Punch.
The bill would task the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the two professional bodies concerned, with developing a national emergency care training programme. Staff involved in this care would have to obtain training and renew their certification at least every 18 months.
