Abuja, Nigeria – March 18, 2025
In a concerted effort to enhance emergency medical response in Nigeria, the Alliance for Healthcare Advancement in Nigeria Initiative (AHANI) has formally presented a proposal to amend the National Health Act. The proposed amendment seeks to establish explicit timelines for the management of patients in emergency settings, aiming to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality rates.
Current Legislative Framework
Under Section 20 of the National Health Act 2014, healthcare providers are mandated not to refuse emergency medical treatment to any person for any reason. Non-compliance attracts penalties, including fines or imprisonment. However, the Act does not specify the timeframe within which such emergency care should commence, leading to inconsistencies in emergency response across healthcare facilities.
AHANI’s Proposal
Recognizing the critical importance of timely intervention in emergency medical situations, AHANI’s delegation, led by Executive Director Dr. JoshuaDaniel, visited a member of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, to advocate for the inclusion of specific timeframes in the National Health Act. The proposal suggests that emergency patients should be attended to within a defined period, aligning Nigeria’s standards with international best practices.
International Benchmarks
Several countries have established clear guidelines for emergency medical response times:
- South Africa: The National Health Act requires that patients be seen within 30 minutes for emergency cases and 1 hour for urgent cases.
- Egypt: The Ministry of Health and Population has guidelines for emergency care, which recommend that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes .
- Morocco: The Ministry of Health has guidelines for emergency care, which recommend that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes.
- Kenya: The Ministry of Health has guidelines for emergency care, which recommend that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes.
- Germany: The German Hospital Federation recommends that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes for emergency cases.
- France: The French Ministry of Health has guidelines for emergency care, which recommend that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes.
- Italy: The Italian Ministry of Health has guidelines for emergency care, which recommend that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes.
- Spain: The Spanish Ministry of Health has guidelines for emergency care, which recommend that patients be seen within 15-30 minutes.
The AHANI delegation’s proposal was met with a positive response from the Senate member, who acknowledged the need for legislative action to improve emergency medical services. A commitment was made to review the proposal and consider its integration into the National Health Act.
AHANI’s initiative underscores the organization’s dedication to advancing healthcare standards in Nigeria. By advocating for explicit emergency response timelines, AHANI aims to ensure that patients receive timely and effective care, ultimately reducing preventable deaths and improving health outcomes nationwide.