Gunshot Victims: Hospitals Not Complying With The Law – Health Minister

Coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has expressed concern over the non-compliance with the national law on treatment of gunshot victims by hospitals and medical practitioners.

The minister said gunshot victims come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention in order to save the life of the patient or victim.

The gunshot Act 2017 stipulates that every hospital in Nigeria whether public or 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 gunshots wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment.

However, Pate, in a statement signed by the ministry’s director of information, Patricia Deworitshe, said “In recent times, the society has witnessed a rise in the loss of lives as a result of the refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot and victims of one-chance who do not present police reports.

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“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 with the gunshot Act 2017 which mandates all medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots; and related matters.”

The minister has, therefore, called 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.

He also urged the police to comply with and enforce the provisions of the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshot ACT 2017 with promptness as well as reassure the health facilities that treatment of gunshot victims is not illegal.