Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has cautioned hospital managements against refusing treatment for patients in emergency situations. She made the announcement on Sunday in Abuja at an award presentation ceremony.
Citing two previous cases of patients who died due to denial of treatment in the hospital, Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed government’s zero tolerance for rejections going forward.
She further disclosed that hospitals have been directed to display signposts stating ‘No more rejection of emergency patients’ outside their facilities, stating that a mobile court has been inaugurated to adjudicate such cases.
The Women Affairs minister, categorically mentioned the tragic death of Greatness Olorunfemi in October 2023, a victim of a road transportation robbery known as ‘one chance,’ who died after being denied treatment at Maitama Hospital in Abuja.
She said a similar incident happened a few years ago in Lagos, where two gunshot victims were refused treatment, leading to their deaths.
According to her “These incidents have heightened concerns, prompting the House of Representatives earlier this year to implore the Federal Ministry of Health to take action against hospitals that refuse to treat accident or gunshot patients without a police report.
“Our hospitals will also put up signs saying ‘No more rejection of emergency patients.’ These are critical issues we face in this country. I am in touch with Maitama Hospital. But now, I have a mobile court for any hospital that does that. I use this opportunity to call on all Nigerians to be vigilant,” the minister said.
