Government Crackdown on Hospital Negligence
Following the tragic incidents of the death of Greatness Olorunfemi, in October 2023, in an Abuja hospital and the death of two gun-shot victims at a Lagos hospital, due to rejection of emergency victims by the hospitals, the Federal Government has placed sanction on hospitals that refuse to attend to emergency patients. Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, made this known during the ‘Unlock Grants Award’ ceremony in Abuja on Sunday.
Measures by the Federal Government
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives urged the Federal Ministry of Health to take decisive action against hospitals that refuse to treat accident or gunshot victims without a police report. Consequently, Kennedy-Ohanenye declared that such refusals will no longer go unpunished. And as a measure, hospitals are now required to display signposts indicating the non-rejection of emergency patients. Furthermore, a mobile court has been established to see to hospitals negligence, as revealed by the minister.
Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasised the importance of vigilance and action from all Nigerians to ensure compliance.
Call for Public Support
The minister praised Nigerians for using social media to tackle these issues and encouraged them to continue their efforts. She stressed that preventing the rejection of emergency patients is a collective responsibility and called for nationwide cooperation.
Government Commitment
Kennedy-Ohanenye assured the public that the government is committed to safeguarding lives and holding negligent hospitals accountable. She reiterated the need for everyone to work together to prevent further tragedies and ensure that emergency patients receive timely medical attention.
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