Emergency delays: Doctors reject bill proposing six-month jail term

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) rejects a proposed amendment to the National Health Act that would impose up to six months in jail or a ₦300,000 fine on healthcare professionals accused of delaying emergency treatment. NARD President Dr Ogar Idoko says criminal penalties are unjust when delays stem from systemic problems, including inadequate staffing and equipment, unreliable electricity and shortages of medical supplies. The association is calling for the punitive provisions to be withdrawn and reconsidered, with greater investment in emergency services, and says it may consider nationwide industrial action while protecting critically ill patients. The Senate is considering the bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, which passed its second reading on Wednesday.