Abuja, Nigeria – March 26, 2025
In a groundbreaking development for Nigeria’s healthcare sector, the Senate has officially passed the first reading of the proposed amendment to the National Health Act — a bill spearheaded and supported by the Alliance for Healthcare Advancement in Nigeria Initiative (AHANI).
This landmark bill aims to mandate explicit timelines for the management of patients in emergency situations across all healthcare facilities in Nigeria. For the first time, the National Health Act will not only guarantee the right to emergency care but also define how quickly that care must be delivered.
The bill proposes a substantial improvement from the current undefined timeframe to a maximum response window inspired by international best practices — aligning Nigeria with countries like South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Germany, where patients are attended to within 15–30 minutes of arrival in emergency situations or otherwise referred to other centers within a stipulated timeframe.
AHANI, whose advocacy and legal team drafted and defended the concept behind the bill, expressed appreciation to the members of the Senate for recognizing the urgent need to reduce delays in emergency care and save more lives.
“This is a big step forward in delivering accountability, speed, and dignity to emergency healthcare in Nigeria,” said the Executive Director of AHAN. “We thank the Senate for this bold and life-saving move, and we remain committed to providing technical, policy, and civic support to see the bill through its next stages.”
The bill now moves to the second reading, where deeper deliberation and stakeholder engagement will take place.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow this historic journey towards a more responsive and life-saving healthcare system.
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