Know Your Rights: Nigerian Hospitals Cannot Legally Reject You During a Medical Emergency, Even If You Have No Money

Know Your Rights: Nigerian Hospitals Cannot Legally Reject You During a Medical Emergency, Even If You Have No Money

Many Nigerians are unaware that a federal law protects their right to emergency medical treatment, regardless of their financial circumstances. Here is what the law says and what you can do when a hospital refuses to attend to an emergency patient.

Imagine rushing a loved one to a hospital after a road accident, only to be told that treatment cannot begin until you make a deposit.

Or imagine a pregnant woman experiencing life-threatening complications being asked to pay for a hospital folder before receiving urgent attention.

For many Nigerian families, these situations are frightening realities.

But what many people do not know is that Nigeria has a law that expressly prohibits healthcare providers and hospitals from refusing emergency medical treatment.

The law is the National Health Act, 2014, signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in October 2014.

And one of its most important provisions is Section 20.

1. Your Right to Emergency Medical Treatment

Section 20(1) of the National Health Act, 2014, states:

“A health care provider, health worker or health establishment shall not refuse a person emergency medical treatment for any reason whatsoever.”

In simple language, a hospital or healthcare worker cannot simply turn away someone who needs emergency medical attention because the person cannot immediately afford treatment.

This protection applies to public and private healthcare establishments.

It is particularly important for people suffering from emergencies such as:

Serious road accident injuries.

Life-threatening pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Gunshot wounds.

Stroke and heart attack symptoms.

Severe asthma attacks.

Critical injuries involving children.

Other conditions requiring urgent medical intervention.

The law makes refusal of emergency medical treatment an offence.

Under Section 20(2), anyone found guilty of contravening the provision is liable, upon conviction, to a fine of ₦100,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Your ability to pay immediately should not determine whether you receive emergency medical attention.

However, this does not mean every medical service is automatically free. Hospitals may still recover legitimate treatment costs after providing the required emergency care.

2. Can a Hospital Demand a Police Report Before Treating a Gunshot Victim?

No.

There is also a specific law protecting victims of gunshot injuries.

The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, requires every hospital, whether public or private, to receive and provide immediate and adequate treatment to a person with a gunshot wound, with or without police clearance.

This means a hospital cannot make the production of a police report a precondition for receiving emergency treatment for a gunshot injury.

The priority must be saving the victim’s life.

3. What About Free Basic Healthcare for Nigerians?

The National Health Act also established the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) under Section 11.

The fund is designed to improve access to essential healthcare, particularly for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Under the Act, its funding includes:

An annual Federal Government grant of not less than one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Grants from international development partners.

Contributions from other sources.

The fund supports the delivery of a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services, essential medicines, vaccines, primary healthcare facilities and emergency medical treatment.

It is implemented through designated healthcare financing institutions and programmes.

This is an important part of Nigeria’s effort to make basic healthcare more accessible and affordable.

However, it does not mean that every service is automatically free at every hospital. Access to services under the programme depends on the applicable eligibility requirements, participating facilities and implementation arrangements.

Nigerians therefore have a legitimate reason to demand transparency and accountability in the management and distribution of these healthcare funds.

4. What Should You Do If a Hospital Rejects an Emergency Patient?

Knowing your rights is important, but knowing what to do when those rights are violated is equally important.

If a hospital refuses to attend to someone requiring emergency medical treatment:

Clearly explain that the patient requires emergency medical attention.

Politely draw the attention of the hospital management to Section 20 of the National Health Act, 2014.

Request the name of the official refusing treatment and the reason for the refusal.

Where possible, keep records of the incident, including dates, receipts, messages and names of witnesses.

Report the incident to the relevant state health regulatory authority or the appropriate professional regulatory body.

Seek legal assistance where necessary.

Do not allow an argument over payment or paperwork to delay efforts to get an emergency patient to a facility capable of providing the necessary care.

If the hospital genuinely lacks the capacity to manage the emergency, appropriate referral and transfer arrangements should be pursued.

5. Why Nigerians Must Know This Law

The existence of a law does not automatically guarantee that it will be respected.

The National Health Act has provided an important legal safeguard, but awareness, enforcement, adequate funding and accountability remain essential.

A patient should not have to know somebody in government, have a wealthy relative or produce thousands of naira before being considered worthy of emergency medical attention.

Hospitals have professional and legal responsibilities.

Citizens also have a responsibility to understand their rights and demand accountability when those rights are violated.

The right to emergency medical treatment is not a favour from a hospital. It is a protection provided by Nigerian law.

The next time someone tells you that a hospital can legally turn away an emergency patient simply because the person has no money, remember Section 20 of the National Health Act, 2014.

Your life matters. Your rights matter.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: REMEMBER THIS

Section 20(1) of the National Health Act, 2014, prohibits healthcare providers, health workers and healthcare establishments from refusing a person emergency medical treatment for any reason whatsoever.

Do not keep this information to yourself. Share it. Someone may need it to save a life.

Headlineswave.ng — Know Your Rights. Know the Law.

This report is based on the National Health Act, 2014, particularly Sections 11 and 20, and the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017.

The legal provisions on emergency treatment should not be confused with a blanket guarantee of free treatment for every medical condition or at every healthcare facility.