The House of Representatives has proposed tougher sanctions against hospitals that refuse, delay or obstruct emergency medical treatment, including the suspension or withdrawal of their operating licences.
The proposed measure is contained in a bill seeking to amend the National Health Act, 2014, sponsored by Akin Rotimi, representing Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency of Ekiti State.
Under the proposed amendment, hospitals would be required to provide emergency patients with beds within two hours, where available. Facilities without available beds would be expected to stabilise patients and arrange referrals to other hospitals.
The bill seeks to address preventable deaths arising from administrative delays, demands for payment before treatment, inadequate bed spaces and poorly coordinated referrals.
It also proposes criminal sanctions and disciplinary measures against healthcare professionals who deliberately abandon or refuse to attend to emergency patients.
In addition, the legislation provides for mandatory emergency care training and periodic certification of healthcare workers to strengthen emergency response and improve patient safety.
The proposed amendment is aimed at strengthening accountability in the healthcare sector and ensuring that patients receive timely emergency medical attention without being subjected to administrative or financial barriers.
