Pate: Saving lives comes first — nobody should die because of police report

Muhammad Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, says hospitals in the country should prioritise saving lives above a police report.

Over the years, there have been complaints from Nigerians over hospitals demanding police reports from gunshot and accident victims before the commencement of treatment.

The subject reared its head on social media recently after the Maitama General Hospital reportedly refused to treat Olorunfemi Greatness, a victim of ‘one chance car’, shortly before she died.

DIRECTIVE TO PRIVATE, PUBLIC HOSPITALS

The treatment and care for victims of gunshot Act 2017, states that every hospital in Nigeria, whether public or private, should treat persons with gunshot wounds, with or without a police report.

Speaking on Wednesday when he featured on a Channels Television programme, Pate said the federal government has issued a directive to hospitals to always save lives first before making any other demands.

“Recently there have been concerns about patients who show up at the emergency facilities and police reports being asked about gunshots or accidents,” he said.

“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 re-emphasised 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 directive 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.