The Federal Government (FG) has ordered public and private hospitals across Nigeria to treat gunshot victims with or without police clearance, saying it is not illegal.

The FG gave the order through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare who said it had received numerous complaints on rejection of gunshot victims by hospitals across the country, leading to the loss of lives.

The ministry issued the directive on Saturday in a statement signed by the Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe, titled ‘Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities On The Gunshot Act 2017’ and shared on its official X account.

According to Deworitshe, the order was given on the directive of the Coordinating Minister of Health And Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate.

“In recent times, society has witnessed a rise in the loss of lives as a result of refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot victims of chance who do not present police reports,” she said.

Deworitshe stated that gunshot victims come under emergencies that require urgent medical attention to save the lives of patients or victims.

“It has come to the knowledge of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, of the slow or non-compliance by most medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots, and related matters,” she said.

“The Act further goes further to stipulate that; every hospital in Nigeria whether private shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance.

“Every person including security agents shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment.”

To this end, Deworitshe said the Coordinating Minister of Health, Pate, has called on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death.

She disclosed that strategies are being put in place by the ministry to ensure compliance to the Act by Nigerian healthcare facilities.

Deworitshe also pleaded with the police to comply with and enforce the provisions of the compulsory treatment and care of victims of gunshot in line with Act 2017 with promptness, while she reassured the health facilities that treatment of gunshot victims is not illegal.