The upper chamber of the National Assembly has considered a Bill seeking to amend the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act, 2017.
The Bill among others, seeks to establish the Medical Emergency Assistance Fund to cover the treatment of victims of gunshot, knife wounds, and other life threatening emergencies.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central).
Leading debate on the principles of the bill, Tinubu said that the intent behind the Compulsory Treatment and Care for the Victims of Gunshots Act, 2017, was to enforce treatment for victims of Gunshots injury.
She noted that prior to its enactment, victims of gunshot injuries were being refused treatment by hospitals, as a result of a misinterpretation of Section 4 of the Robbery and firearms (Special Provision) Act 1990.
The lawmaker, however, explained that the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of gunshot Act, 2017, provides that every hospital, public or private shall receive for treatment, with or without police clearance, with or without monetary deposit, persons with gunshot wounds, and criminalizes contravention.
She noted that the Act provides a mechanism for reporting treatment of persons with gunshot wounds to police, and precludes persons from being the subject of embarrassing interrogation for helping victims.
“Its however shocking that in spite of the Act, the flagrant disregard of human life continues unabated, it is particularly sad that we continue to let brilliant and skillful mind go to waste, in what are apparently avoidable deaths.In a country where emergency response is almost non-existent, and getting victims to hospital is already burdensome, it is sad that where the victims make it to a hospital alive, they are still denied treatment and left to die.
“This is not only barbaric and inhumane, it is a violation of Hippocratic oath which medical professionals swear to.The situation is further made worse by the fact that obtaining these police reports has been commercialized by some, thus ensuring that there is no quick and easy way to get it done,” the lawmaker said.
