FG Directs Hospitals to Treat Gunshot Victims Without Police Clearance

The Federal Government has mandated public and private hospitals across Nigeria to attend to gunshot victims without requiring police clearance, prioritizing life-saving care.

The Federal Government has announced that all public and private healthcare facilities across the nation are required to treat gunshot victims regardless of whether they have police clearance.

The directive is outlined in a statement released by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Saturday through its official account on platform X.

The statement, titled “Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities on the Gunshot Act 2017,” signed by Director of Information Patricia Deworitshe, reported that the ministry had received complaints about hospitals nationwide refusing to treat gunshot victims. This non-compliance has led to loss of lives.

It also stated that the order was issued under the directive of Professor Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare.

“Recently, there has been an increase in fatalities because some healthcare facilities are refusing to treat random gunshot victims who do not provide police reports,” the statement said.

The statement indicates that individuals with gunshot wounds are considered emergencies and require immediate medical attention to preserve their lives.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has become aware that most medical facilities are slow to comply or fail altogether in providing the mandatory treatment and care for gunshot victims, as well as addressing related issues.

The Act additionally specifies that all hospitals in Nigeria, whether private or public, must provide immediate and adequate treatment without requiring police clearance.

“Everyone, including security personnel, must provide all possible assistance to individuals with gunshot wounds and ensure they are taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment,” it stated.

Aligning with this mandate, the ministry expressed concern over the surge in gunshot incidents and noted that some healthcare facilities refuse to treat victims or patients without police reports.

“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, urges all medical practitioners to adhere to this national law by delivering swift treatment and care to the victims in order to prevent fatalities,” it stated. The ministry is also implementing strategies to ensure that Nigerian healthcare facilities comply with the Act.

It also called on the Nigerian police to adhere to and implement the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 swiftly. Additionally, it sought to reassure health facilities that treating gunshot victims is legal.