A dire warning has been issued by renowned human rights advocate and former NBA President, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), who is calling for immediate legislative action to tackle the escalating crisis of medical negligence in Nigeria.
In a powerful letter addressed to the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin, Agbakoba paints a grim picture of preventable deaths caused by lapses in healthcare, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.
"Absolutely preventable deaths" is how Agbakoba describes the tragic loss of life, warning that the current regulatory framework has failed to protect patients and hold healthcare practitioners accountable.
The recent death of Nkanu Nnamdi, one of the twin sons of acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, following a routine medical procedure in Lagos, is a heart-wrenching example that has once again brought Nigeria's healthcare oversight system under scrutiny.
With over two decades of experience in medical malpractice litigation, Agbakoba speaks with authority, describing a systemic crisis characterized by preventable deaths during routine procedures, inadequate assessments, monitoring failures, and improper medication administration.
But here's where it gets controversial: Agbakoba also points to alleged tampering with medical records, weak accountability systems, and the over-centralization of regulatory authority within state health ministries. He laments the disappearance or ineffectiveness of older supervisory structures, such as Chief Medical Officers and Health Inspectors, which once ensured compliance and accountability.
Chronic underfunding is another issue, with many states failing to meet Nigeria's commitment under the 2001 Abuja Declaration to allocate at least 15% of annual budgets to healthcare.
Agbakoba proposes a series of sweeping reforms, including the enactment of a unified State Clinical Negligence and Patient Safety Law to consolidate legal provisions, codifying clear standards of care, and separating civil, criminal, and professional disciplinary liabilities.
He also suggests the creation of an administrative redress scheme for low-value claims to reduce litigation delays and the establishment of independent State Healthcare Quality and Safety Commissions with licensing, inspection, and sanctioning powers.
Furthermore, Agbakoba calls for comprehensive patient rights protections, such as guaranteed access to medical records within seven days, the right to second opinions, and the presence of independent patient advocates in healthcare facilities.
Agbakoba emphasizes the critical need for coordinated action, noting that the current division of responsibilities has created gaps that negligent practitioners exploit. He argues that strong state-led reforms, combined with reinforced federal oversight, are essential to building a healthcare system rooted in safety, transparency, accountability, and respect for human life.
"The time to act is now," Agbakoba urges, warning that without urgent reforms, preventable tragedies will continue to erode public trust in Nigeria's healthcare system.
What are your thoughts on these proposed reforms? Do you think they go far enough to address the systemic issues in Nigeria's healthcare? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments!
