In a bid to improve emergency care across the country, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Development to establish a committee tasked with ensuring that all hospitals meet the required standards for facilities and personnel to handle emergency cases.
The directive followed a motion titled “The Need to Prioritise and Boost Health Emergency Response and Management of Emergency Cases in Nigerian Hospitals”, sponsored by Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei.
Presenting the motion, Ambaiowei highlighted that emergency cases, such as heart attacks, strokes, severe bleeding, and natural disasters, require immediate and comprehensive management, including prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
He emphasized that Section 20 of the National Health Act, 2014, mandates healthcare providers to administer emergency treatment to anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
Ambaiowei expressed concern over delays, patient rejections, and ill-equipped facilities that have resulted in avoidable deaths in many hospitals, citing the tragic case of Arise TV presenter Sommie Madugwu as an example of the consequences of delayed care.
He further warned that the rapid proliferation of private hospitals without proper emergency infrastructure exacerbates the problem, leaving patients at risk. According to him, robust emergency response systems in hospitals would save lives and restore public confidence in the country’s healthcare system.
In adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Health Institutions and Healthcare Services to monitor hospitals nationwide and submit a report within four weeks.
Lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Health to collaborate with state governments and professional medical bodies to develop a national emergency response framework that guarantees timely and effective care for all patients.
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