NASS to amend National Health Act, considers funding for gunshot victims

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said, the house is working toward amending the National Health Act to address gaps in accessing healthcare, including funding for gunshot victims.

Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Hon. Tanko Sununu, the Chairman of, House Committee on Health, said this at the opening of the 44th/45th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the West African College of Physicians, Nigeria Chapter in Abuja.

The amended act, provisions were made for healthcare service providers to claim funds used to treat gunshot victims during emergencies.

He said the consideration was important as increasing cases of no payment, no service for victims of gunshot wounds posed a serious concern.

According to him, Nigeria’s health indices remain poor and the national assembly will play its role through legislation to help address the causes of poor health delivery system in the country, one of which is accessibility.

The house of representatives is waiting for concurrence from the executive arm of government on the issue of emergency treatment for gunshot victims.

“In the next days to come, we will consider the amendment of the National Health Act which provides the basic framework upon which healthcare in the country is developed.

“In the amended Health Act, we tried to proffer solutions where practitioners can claim the bills for services rendered to a gunshot victim. This will allow victims to access emergency healthcare promptly.”

The speaker, who noted that the country was currently facing three major crises of COVID-19, insecurity and dwindling resources, added that the crises had significantly impacted health indices.

“NASS is working toward addressing the challenges by providing effective legislation, oversight, and representation.

“The national assembly passed the bill already and we are hoping that the executive arm assent to the bill so that every Nigerian will have a basic minimum package that he or she can use to sustain health.

“We are also considering the Infectious Diseases Control Bill which tries to provide for emergency preparedness in the country.”

The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund will not only come with a minimum package but will also improve the health sector’s readiness to address emergencies.
The speaker, while commending the WACP, assured that the NASS would consider all recommendations made by it after its AGSM and utilise it to influence legislative activities.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olurunnimbe Mamora, listed the causes of Nigeria’s poor health indices to include inadequate human resources, poor data management and limited funding to scale up coverage of evidence-based interventions.

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