Nigeria: Emergency Delays - Doctors Reject Bill Proposing 6-Month Jail Term
[Vanguard] The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected proposed legislation seeking a six-month jail term or ₦300,000 fine for healthcare professionals over delays in emergency medical treatment.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected proposed legislation mandating a six-month jail term or ₦300,000 fine for medical professionals who fail to provide emergency treatment within a specified timeframe. Dr Ogar Idoko, NARD's president, denounced the amendment to the National Health Act, stating that it criminalizes doctors for issues stemming from inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
He emphasized that doctors operate under challenging conditions, including outdated equipment, insufficient staffing, and unreliable electricity. Idoko urged lawmakers to focus on increasing healthcare funding and enhancing infrastructure instead of penalizing medical personnel. The NARD president also proposed that lawmakers consider compelling government officials to use public hospitals to deter misuse of public resources on unnecessary medical treatment abroad.
Idoko warned that additional criminal penalties for overstretched healthcare workers could exacerbate Nigeria's brain drain problem, known as the "Japan syndrome." The association urged the National Assembly to consider explicit and enforceable provisions that account for circumstances beyond practitioners' control before adopting punitive measures.
NARD pledged to explore all lawful options, including nationwide industrial action, if lawmakers persist in criminalizing doctors for institutional failures while reaffirming their commitment to patient safety and quality healthcare.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
