The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), on Wednesday, made a case for the immediate treatment of accident and gunshot victims without recourse to police reports.
The FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera, advanced cogent reasons why victims of gunshot and accidents should be given emergency treatment before ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the cause of the injury.
Irukera, who made the clarification at a training for doctors and nurses in Kano with the theme “Strengthening Patient-Centered Care Health Care Provider Training”, added that “when you have an accident or gunshot victims or patients, our position is that you have to treat first before determining whether it is an accident or a case of crime. “This is because one has to be alive before anything else.”
Represented by the commission’s Executive Commissioner, Operations, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the executive vice chairman insisted that accident and gunshot victims have the right to be treated first before finding out the cause of their injuries pointing out that “saving human lives remains paramount above other considerations.”
He further said that the idea behind the training was to inform doctors and nurses on the nitty-gritty of the Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) so they could acknowledge their obligations and the rights of patients while carrying out their duties.
He further said that trained doctors and nurses should train others on the need to abide by and uphold the PBoR, saying, “Today, we have to listen to the legal perspective and how health practitioners can apply the PBoR.”
According to him, the documentation and unveiling of the PBoR across Nigeria is a significant nationwide initiative. It is part of the National Programme of Action for Strengthening Patients’ Rights, spearheaded by the FCCPC in collaboration with Ace Associates, who serve as consultants.
He added that “this programme aims to ensure that patients’ rights are protected and upheld in healthcare facilities across the country.
“This comprehensive effort involves adopting the PBoR principles and guidelines, raising awareness among healthcare providers, institutions and the general public about the importance of patient-centered care, and engaging various stakeholders in the healthcare value chain and beyond.
“These stakeholders include public and private healthcare facilities, state governments, and traditional rulers, ensuring an inclusive engagement approach.
“The initiative seeks to integrate the principles of patient-centered care effectively across the entire healthcare landscape in Nigeria.
This approach fosters a culture of respect for patients’ rights and well-being, ultimately contributing to the improvement of healthcare.”
The PBoR is an aggregation of patients’ rights that exist in other instruments including the Constitution, the Consumer Protection Act and the Child Rights Act.
