House of Representatives has proposed tougher penalties for hospitals that refuse, delay or obstruct emergency medical treatment, including the suspension or withdrawal of their operating licences.
Gatekeepers News reports that the proposal is contained in a bill seeking to amend the National Health Act, 2014, sponsored by Akin Rotimi, representing Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency of Ekiti State.
The bill was considered for second reading during Wednesday’s plenary session, November 4, 2026.
Under the proposed amendment, hospitals would be required to assess emergency patients within 15 minutes of arrival and commence basic stabilisation within 30 minutes, while life-saving interventions must begin immediately in life-threatening situations.
The legislation also requires hospitals to provide emergency patients with beds within two hours, where available. Facilities without available beds would be expected to stabilise patients and arrange referrals to other hospitals.
Rotimi said the amendment was necessary to address preventable deaths caused by administrative delays, demands for payment before treatment, unavailable hospital beds and poorly coordinated referrals.
He noted that although Section 20 of the National Health Act already prohibits hospitals from denying emergency treatment, stronger enforcement measures were needed to protect patients.
The proposed legislation also provides for financial penalties, suspension of hospital operating licences and possible closure for repeat offenders.
Healthcare professionals who deliberately abandon or refuse to attend to emergency patients could also face criminal sanctions and disciplinary action.
The bill further proposes mandatory emergency care training and certification for healthcare workers at intervals not exceeding 18 months.
