FG orders hospitals to treat gunshot victims without police report

The Federal Government has mandated that all public and private healthcare facilities across the country must treat victims of gunshot wounds, regardless of whether or not they have a police report

This directive was issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in a statement shared on its official X handle on Saturday. The statement, titled Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities on the Gunshot Act 2017, was signed by Patricia Deworitshe, the Director of Information. It highlighted concerns raised over hospitals across the nation rejecting gunshot victims, resulting in avoidable deaths.

The directive comes under the authority of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate.

The statement notes that recent incidents have seen a rise in fatalities due to some healthcare facilities refusing treatment to gunshot victims without police reports. It emphasized that gunshot wounds are medical emergencies that require immediate care to save lives.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare acknowledged widespread non-compliance by medical facilities in providing the mandatory treatment for gunshot victims as stipulated by the 2017 law. It further clarified that the law mandates all hospitals, both public and private, to treat gunshot victims immediately, with or without police clearance. The law also requires that security personnel assist gunshot victims and ensure they receive prompt medical attention.

In response to this growing concern, the Ministry has called on all medical practitioners to uphold the law and provide timely treatment to prevent further deaths. It also urged the Nigerian police to fully enforce the law, ensuring that hospitals are reassured that treating gunshot victims is not illegal.

The Ministry is taking steps to ensure compliance with this vital law by healthcare facilities across the country.