Gom Mirian
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has raised concerns over the non-compliance with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 in most medical facilities.
The Act, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, mandates every hospital in Nigeria to accept or receive immediate and adequate treatment for gunshot victims, with or without police clearance.
In a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, on Tuesday, it was noted that there has been a rise in the loss of lives due to the refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot victims and victims of one-chance who do not present police reports.
The Minister emphasised that gunshot victims require urgent attention to save their lives and called on all medical practitioners to comply with the national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims.
“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.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Pate, therefore calls on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death while, strategies are being put in place by the Ministry to ensure compliance to the Act by Nigerian healthcare facilities,” the statement noted.
The statement further called for the cooperation of all stakeholders, including medical practitioners and law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the provisions of the Act are adhered to.
