The proposed legislation seeks to compel public and private hospitals across the country to assess emergency patients within 15 minutes of arrival, commence initial stabilisation within 30 minutes and complete referrals to other healthcare facilities within three hours where necessary.
Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the bill seeks to amend the National Health Act, 2014, to establish enforceable standards for emergency medical treatment, healthcare workers’ training and patient referrals.
Leading the debate on the bill during Wednesday’s plenary, Yar’Adua said the proposed amendment would address critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system and ensure that patients received timely and life-saving medical attention during emergencies, irrespective of their social status, financial position, influence or location.
He explained that the legislation would introduce clear timelines and responsibilities for healthcare facilities, while strengthening the capacity of medical personnel to respond effectively to emergency situations.
Under the proposed law, hospitals would be required to commence triage and initial assessment within 15 minutes of a patient’s arrival. Where a doctor is unavailable, a trained and certified nurse would be permitted to conduct the assessment.
The bill also mandates healthcare facilities to provide basic stabilisation measures, including oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, pain relief and preliminary diagnostic procedures, within 30 minutes of a patient’s arrival.
In addition, hospitals would be required to commence immediate life-saving interventions, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management and bleeding control, once a life-threatening condition is identified.
The proposed legislation further provides that patients requiring admission should be assigned beds within two hours, subject to availability. Where beds are unavailable, hospitals would be expected to stabilise the patients and initiate referral arrangements to other facilities.
It also stipulates that hospitals must dispatch ambulances or arrange alternative transportation within 30 minutes of making a decision to refer a patient.
On the training of healthcare personnel, Yar’Adua said the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria would jointly develop a national emergency care curriculum.
He added that healthcare workers involved in emergency services would be required to undergo periodic training and certification at intervals not exceeding 18 months.
Supporting the bill, the Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), said the proposed legislation would help reduce avoidable deaths arising from road traffic accidents, maternal emergencies and other critical medical situations.
Monguno expressed concern over cases in which healthcare providers allegedly neglect patients requiring urgent medical attention, resulting in preventable deaths.
He maintained that introducing legal consequences for violations of emergency treatment standards would promote accountability among healthcare providers and improve the quality of emergency medical services across the country.
The bill’s passage for second reading marks another step in the Senate’s consideration of proposed measures aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and ensuring that patients receive prompt medical attention during emergencies.
