FG Mandates Hospitals In Nigeria To Treat Gunshot Patients Without Police Clearance

By Agu Peter, Abakaliki

In recent times, the society has witnessed a rise in the loss of lives as a result of the refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot and victims of one-chance who do not present police reports, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social welfare has mandated hospital in Nigeria whether public or private to accept or receive a gunshot patients for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate also lamented the slow or non- compliance by most medical facilities going contrary with the gunshot Act 2017 which mandates all medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots; and related matters. The Act goes further to stipulate that The minister disclosed this in a statement by the Director of Information, FMOH, Patricia Deworitshe that gunshot victims come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention in order to save the life of the patient or victim. The Minister said in line with this, the Ministry is concerned about the spate of gunshot incidences and refusal of some of the health facilities to administer treatment and care for the victim or patient without police report". He said every person including security agents to render every possible assistance to any person with gunshots wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment. He therefore calls on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death while, strategies are being put in place by the Ministry to ensure compliance to the Act by Nigerian healthcare facilities. He also urged the police to comply with and enforce the provisions of the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshot ACT 2017 with promptness as well as reassure the health facilities that treatment of gunshot victims is not illegal".