Yar’Adua Seeks 15-Minute Emergency Response Standard in Hospitals, Proposes Amendment to National Health Act
Bill seeks mandatory emergency patient assessment within 15 minutes, commencement of stabilization within 30 minutes and stiffer penalties for hospitals that deny or delay emergency treatment.
Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, has called for enforceable emergency medical treatment standards and structured referral protocols across healthcare facilities in Nigeria to reduce preventable deaths arising from delays in accessing medical care.
Yar’Adua made the call while leading debate on a Bill seeking to amend the National Health Act, 2014, to provide for emergency medical treatment standards and referral protocols in healthcare facilities.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish clear timelines for triage, patient stabilisation, life-saving interventions and referrals, while strengthening accountability among healthcare providers and institutions.
Leading the debate on the Bill, which was read for the first time on March 24, 2025, the senator said the proposed amendment was intended to address a critical gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly the absence of clearly defined and enforceable timelines for responding to medical emergencies.
He stressed that every Nigerian, irrespective of social status, financial capacity, influence or geographical location, deserved timely access to life-saving medical care.
According to him, preventable deaths continue to occur because of delays in assessing patients, initiating treatment and referring emergency cases to appropriate healthcare facilities.
He explained that the first few minutes following a medical emergency were often critical in determining whether a patient survived or suffered permanent complications.
Citing Nigeria’s maternal mortality burden, Yar’Adua said the country accounted for approximately 10 per cent of global maternal deaths, identifying delayed access to emergency obstetric care as one of the contributing factors.
He also referenced road traffic accident statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps, which indicated that 7,715 crashes recorded between January and September 2025 resulted in 3,915 deaths and 24,617 injuries.
The senator noted that other acute medical conditions, including stroke, cardiac arrest and severe infections, equally required prompt and coordinated medical interventions.
Under the proposed amendment, all licensed healthcare facilities would be required to conduct triage and assess emergency patients within 15 minutes of arrival.
The Bill also stipulates that stabilisation measures, including oxygen administration, intravenous fluids and pain management, should commence within 30 minutes of arrival.
It further provides that life-saving interventions must begin immediately once a life-threatening condition is identified.
Yar’Adua explained that the proposed amendment would strengthen Section 20 of Part III of the National Health Act, which addresses the rights and obligations of healthcare users and personnel, particularly the prohibition against refusing emergency medical treatment.
He observed that although the existing law prohibits healthcare providers and establishments from denying emergency treatment, it does not adequately specify the procedures and timelines required to ensure effective implementation.
The existing provision prescribes a fine of N100,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both, for offenders.
However, the proposed amendment seeks to increase the fine to N300,000 while retaining the maximum six-month imprisonment term, or both penalties, for persons or healthcare facilities found guilty of violating the provisions.
The legislation also seeks to provide clearer definitions of operational terms such as emergency patient, stabilisation, triage and referral to promote uniform interpretation and implementation across the country.
On international best practices, Yar’Adua said the proposed legislation was consistent with emergency healthcare standards adopted by several countries, including Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States.
He cited Ghana’s emergency care guidelines, South Africa’s emergency care regulations and Kenya’s structured emergency medical care policies as examples of frameworks designed to promote prompt assessment, treatment and referral of patients.
He also referenced the United States’ Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which prohibits hospitals from refusing emergency medical screening and stabilising treatment to patients on the basis of their ability to pay.
According to him, the experiences of these countries demonstrate the importance of clear legal obligations, defined response timelines and effective coordination in reducing avoidable deaths during medical emergencies.
Yar’Adua maintained that the proposed amendment would provide healthcare workers with clearer operational guidance, protect professionals who act in good faith within documented resource limitations and establish accountability for cases of wilful neglect.
He said the objective was not to punish healthcare workers but to create a system in which patients receive prompt attention and healthcare facilities understand their responsibilities during emergencies.
The senator urged his colleagues to support the Bill, stressing that strengthening emergency medical response systems was essential to improving healthcare delivery and protecting the lives of Nigerians.
