Treat gunshot victims without police clearance, FG orders hospitals
The Federal Government has issued a directive mandating both public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to treat gunshot victims, regardless of whether they present a police report.
This directive is in response to recent complaints about hospitals rejecting gunshot victims, leading to preventable deaths.
In a statement released on Saturday via its official X handle, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare emphasized the urgency of medical intervention for gunshot victims.
The statement, titled Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities on the Gunshot Act 2017, was signed by the Ministry’s Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe, and acknowledged the rising cases of refusal to treat victims due to the lack of police clearance.
The directive comes from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, who expressed concern about the growing number of fatalities resulting from delayed medical attention.
The Ministry reiterated that the Gunshot Act 2017 mandates all hospitals in Nigeria, both public and private, to provide immediate treatment to gunshot victims, regardless of police clearance.
“It has come to the knowledge of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, of the slow or non-compliance by most medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots, and related matters.
“The Act further goes further to stipulate that; every hospital in Nigeria whether private shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance.
“Every person including security agents shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment,” it said.
The Ministry then called on the Nigerian police to enforce the law, assuring health facilities that treating gunshot victims is not illegal. Professor Pate urged medical practitioners to comply with the law to prevent further loss of lives and assured that measures are being implemented to ensure adherence to the Act across the country.
