The Nigerian government has mandated that, with or without police approval, victims of gunshot wounds must receive treatment in public and private medical facilities across the country.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare released the decree on Saturday using its official X feed.
According to the “Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities On The Gunshot Act 2017” statement, which was signed by Patricia Deworitshe, the director of information, the ministry had received complaints about hospitals all around the country refusing to accept gunshot patients, which had led to fatalities.
Additionally, it stated that Professor Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, had ordered the directive.
“Refusal of certain medical facilities to treat accidental gunshot victims who do not provide police reports has led to an increase in the number of fatalities in society in recent years,” the statement stated.
The statement claims that victims of gunshots fall under emergencies that need immediate medical care to preserve the lives of the patients or victims.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has learnt of the majority of medical facilities’ tardiness or noncompliance with providing mandatory treatment and care for gunshot victims, as well as other associated issues.
The Act also states that all hospitals in Nigeria, whether private or public, must accept or receive prompt, quality care, whether or not they have police approval.
According to the statement, “Everyone, including security personnel, shall provide every assistance possible to any individual who has been shot and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment.”
According to this directive, the ministry expressed worry over the recent spike in gunshot incidents and the reluctance of certain medical facilities to treat victims or patients in the absence of police records.
According to the statement, “Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, therefore calls on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death.”
The ministry is also implementing strategies to ensure that Nigerian healthcare facilities comply with the Act. Additionally, it asked Nigerian police to promptly comply with and enforce the Act 2017’s requirements for the mandatory treatment and care of gunshot victims and to reassure medical establishments that treating gunshot victims is not prohibited.
