The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to make emergency medical treatment compulsory in all public and private hospitals across Nigeria, proposing a fine of up to ₦300,000 or six months’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of denying patients emergency care.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central), seeks to amend the National Health Act, 2014, to establish mandatory standards for emergency medical treatment and referral procedures in healthcare facilities.

Titled, A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Health Act, 2014 to Provide for Emergency Medical Treatment Standards and Referral Protocols in Healthcare Facilities; and for Related Matters, 2026 (SB. 759), the proposed legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative action, with a directive to report back within four weeks.

Under the proposed amendment, no healthcare provider, medical personnel or healthcare facility would be permitted to deny anyone emergency medical attention, irrespective of the circumstances.

The bill also requires healthcare professionals to immediately commence life-saving interventions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management and bleeding control, once a life-threatening condition is identified.

It further stipulates that hospitals must conduct triage and initial patient assessments within 15 minutes of arrival, while basic stabilisation measures, including oxygen administration, intravenous fluids, pain management and initial diagnostic procedures, must commence within 30 minutes.

For patients requiring admission, hospital beds are to be provided within two hours, subject to availability. Where beds are unavailable, the facility must immediately stabilise the patient and arrange transfer to another hospital.

The proposed law also requires hospitals to initiate referral arrangements within two hours and complete the transfer process within three hours of the patient’s arrival, except where circumstances beyond their control prevent compliance.

It further mandates hospitals to dispatch an ambulance or provide alternative transportation within 30 minutes of communicating a referral decision.

Beyond emergency response timelines, the bill seeks to introduce compulsory emergency care training and certification for healthcare workers, with recertification intervals not exceeding 18 months.

It also mandates the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to jointly develop a standardised national emergency care curriculum.

However, healthcare practitioners would be exempted from penalties where resource limitations prevent compliance, provided such constraints are properly documented and established referral procedures are followed.

Leading debate on the bill, Senator Yar’Adua said the proposed amendment would address critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system by establishing enforceable standards for emergency treatment and referral procedures.

He said the legislation would guarantee Nigerians timely and life-saving medical attention during emergencies, irrespective of their social status, financial capacity, influence or location.