Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, the Health Minister noted that the Federal Government had issued a directive to hospitals to always save lives first before making any other demands from gunshot and accident victims, but expressed regret that the directive was not adhered to by hospitals, resulting in deaths of many of such victims.
“Recently there have been concerns about patients who show up at the emergency facilities and police reports being asked about gunshots or accidents. That’s really unfortunate, but in all federal teaching hospitals, for instance, I was in Maiduguri at the weekend, life has to be saved first.
“Life first and we have reemphasised that. All our hospitals I believe are doing that. No person should come with an emergency, or life-threatening challenge and be made to lose their life while awaiting police report.
“Saving lives comes first and that is the direction we have given; that is what we would pursue and we hope that all hospitals including private hospitals will have this mindset that in health, it’s save lives first,” Pate said.
The Health Minister said that it is expected that states across the nation will also follow up with the Federal Government’s directive in their various hospitals. He also reiterated that private hospitals also have the obligation to follow the same directive, reminding them that as health practitioners, saving lives comes first everywhere.
Pate also spoke on the Federal Government’s resolve to expand health insurance in the country with the recent launching of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Furthermore, he said that access to affordable quality health care for all Nigerians is critical on the path to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).