The Nigerian Senate has advanced a landmark legislative proposal designed to overhaul nationwide critical care response and mandate unified patient transfer protocols across all public and private health institutions. The bill, officially titled the National Health Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (SB.7590), successfully passed its second reading during plenary, marking a significant step toward eliminating critical delays in emergency medical attention.
Sponsored to close systemic gaps in emergency response and meet up to international best practices, the proposed legislation seeks to amend the National Health Act of 2014 by embedding strict, legally binding Emergency Medical Treatment Standards and statutory Referral Protocols into the national health sector. The Senators insisted that the measure aims to address long-standing issues where critical patients face treatment denials, challenges or improper hospital-to-hospital transfers during life-threatening situations.
Under the core provisions of the amendment, healthcare facilities will be legally required to maintain standardized emergency care capabilities and follow uniform operational directives when managing acute cases or initiating patient transfers. By institutionalizing clear referral criteria and mandatory response procedures, the bill aims to prevent avoidable casualties, ensure rapid stabilization, and streamline coordination across varying tiers of the healthcare sector.
Following the successful second reading, the bill has been referred to the relevant Senate committee for detailed legislative scrutiny, public hearings, and stakeholder engagement before returning to the floor for final passage.
