Babatunji Wusu –
On Wednesday in Kano, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) presented persuasive arguments for the necessity of providing emergency care to individuals injured in accidents or gunshots before determining the exact source of their injuries.
This comes just after the organization stated that treating accident and gunshot victims before determining the cause of their injuries is a right, and that saving lives always takes precedence over other factors.
Speaking at the Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano during the training of physicians and nurses on the application of the Patients Bill of Rights (PBoR), FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera, made a compelling argument for the prompt treatment of accident and gunshot victims in hospitals without waiting for a police report or authorization.
“Strengthening Patient-Centred Care: A Health Care Provider Training” is the training’s theme.
“When you have an accident or gunshot victims or patients, our position is that you have to treat the patient first before determining whether it is an accident or a case of crime, because one has to be alive before anything else,” stated Dr. Adamu Ahmad Abdullahi, Executive Commissioner of Operations.
“The goal of the training workshop was to educate physicians and nurses on the specifics of the PBoR so they could respect patients’ rights and their own obligations while performing their jobs,” he stated.
“Today, we have to listen to the legal perspective and how health practitioners can apply the Patients’ Bill of Rights,” the program added, adding that participants would be trained to teach others on the need to abide by and uphold the PBoR.
He revealed that “the Patients’ Bill of Rights is a significant nationwide initiative that was documented and unveiled throughout Nigeria.”
It is a component of the FCCPC’s National Programme of Action for the Strengthening of the Patients’ Bill of Rights, which is being led by Ace Associates, consultants.
“This program aims to ensure that patients’ rights are protected and upheld in healthcare facilities across the country,” he added in his disclosure.
Adopting the PBoR guidelines and principles, educating the public, healthcare professionals, and institutions about the benefits of patient-centered care, and involving a variety of stakeholders in the healthcare value chain and beyond are all part of this extensive endeavor.
“To provide an inclusive involvement approach, these stakeholders include state governments, traditional rulers, and public and commercial healthcare facilities.
He added, “The project aims to effectively incorporate the ideals of patient-centered care throughout Nigeria’s whole healthcare system.
In the end, this strategy improves healthcare by fostering a culture of respect for patients’ rights and wellbeing.
