Hospitals across the Federation have refused to comply with the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate complained.
According to the Minister, gunshot victims come under emergencies, hence require urgent attention for their lives to be sustained.
The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure had signed into law, the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017. The Act stipulates that every hospital in the country, whether public or private, shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance…
Consequently, the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Patricia Deworitshe in a statement signed by her noted that recently, there have been losses in the lives of citizens of gunshot victim because hospitals continue to request for police reports on victims during emergencies.
“Gunshot victims come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention to save the life of the patient or victim. 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 going contrary to the Gunshot Act 2017 which mandates all medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots; and related matters.
“In line with this mandate, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is concerned about the spate of gunshot incidences and the refusal of some of the health facilities to administer treatment and care for the victim or patient without a police report.
“Gunshot victims come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention to save the life of the patient or victim. 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 going contrary to the Gunshot Act 2017 which mandates all medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots; and related matters.“In line with this mandate, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is concerned about the spate of gunshot incidences and the refusal of some of the health facilities to administer treatment and care for the victim or patient without a police report.
