Reps propose licence revocation for hospitals denying emergency care

The House of Representatives is considering legislation to strengthen enforcement of patients' right to emergency medical care in Nigeria. Sponsored by Mr Akin Rotimi, the proposed amendment to the National Health Act, 2014, would introduce mandatory emergency triage, stabilisation and referral procedures with clearly defined timelines.

Hospitals would be required to commence triage within 15 minutes of a patient's arrival, basic stabilisation within 30 minutes, and life-saving interventions immediately upon identification of a life-threatening condition. Failure to meet these requirements could result in sanctions, including suspension or withdrawal of operating licences, financial penalties, and criminal sanctions for healthcare professionals.

The bill also aims to address delays caused by shortages of medical personnel by allowing trained nurses to conduct triage in the absence of doctors. Healthcare facilities would need to assign a bed to an emergency patient within two hours, commence stabilisation and begin referral within two hours of arrival, and arrange transportation and complete transfer within 30 and 3 hours, respectively.

The legislation seeks to protect healthcare workers who act in good faith and properly document resource limitations while imposing stricter penalties for wilful abandonment of emergency patients.