The Federal Government has directed immediate reforms in the emergency care services at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, following public outrage over delayed medical attention to accident victims at the hospital’s emergency unit.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, issued the directive during an unscheduled visit to the facility on Sunday.
He also revealed plans to launch a nationwide emergency care training programme aimed at standardising and improving response capacities across public hospitals.
The visit came in response to a viral video showing victims of an accident allegedly left unattended at the hospital’s emergency unit. The footage, which sparked outrage and allegations of negligence on social media, prompted the government to set up an investigative panel to probe the incident.
Dr. Salako said he received the panel’s report before arriving at the hospital. During the inspection, he engaged with frontline medical staff, assessed infrastructure, and reviewed the facility’s operational readiness to handle emergencies.
“You are in the eye of the storm, responsible for saving lives. Even if you’ve done one million things right, one mistake is what the public will remember,” Salako told the staff during the visit.
As part of immediate corrective measures, the minister ordered the hospital management to increase the number of casualty officers per shift from two to at least four, aimed at improving response time and ensuring newly recruited health assistants are fully integrated into clinical operations.
Salako also identified infrastructure gaps within the emergency unit, calling for urgent upgrades to complement recent improvements in electricity and water supply. “These improvements must be ongoing and focused on patient needs,” he stressed.
On security concerns, hospital officials told the minister that the facility is working with private security firms and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to regulate access to the emergency area.
Salako emphasised the need for enhanced surveillance systems, noting that CCTV footage has proved critical in previous investigations.
Responding to the minister’s inquiries, Head of the Emergency Unit, Dr. Timothy Sama’ila, admitted existing challenges such as limited space, high patient volumes, and staff shortages.
The minister’s visit underscored the government’s renewed commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians have access to prompt and quality emergency care services.
