FG Orders Reforms at Abuja FMC After Public Outcry Over Emergency Delays

The Federal Government has ordered immediate reforms at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, to address lapses in its emergency care system, following widespread outrage over the delayed treatment of accident victims.

This directive was issued by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during an unscheduled inspection of the hospital on Sunday, amid mounting criticism from the public.

The minister’s visit was prompted by a viral video that captured accident victims allegedly left unattended at the hospital’s emergency unit. The disturbing footage sparked widespread condemnation and raised allegations of negligence, forcing the government to set up an investigative panel. Dr. Salako said he had received the panel’s findings prior to the visit, which guided his assessment of the facility.

“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 medical staff during his interaction with them.

During the visit, the minister held discussions with emergency unit staff, reviewed the facility’s infrastructure, and evaluated its readiness to handle critical cases. As part of immediate corrective actions, he directed the hospital management to increase the number of casualty officers on duty per shift from two to a minimum of four. He also emphasized the urgent need to fully integrate newly recruited health assistants into clinical operations to improve service delivery.

Dr. Salako further highlighted critical gaps in the emergency unit’s infrastructure and called for immediate upgrades, while commending recent improvements in electricity and water supply. “These improvements must be ongoing and focused on patient needs,” he said.

Addressing concerns about security and crowd control in the emergency area, hospital officials informed the minister that they are working with private security providers and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to manage access. The minister, however, stressed the importance of expanding surveillance systems, noting that CCTV footage had played a vital role in previous investigations.

Responding to the minister’s queries, Head of the Emergency Unit, Dr. Timothy Sama’ila, acknowledged challenges such as limited physical space, staff shortages, and a growing number of emergency cases.

The minister also announced plans to launch a nationwide emergency care training programme aimed at boosting capacity and standardising emergency response protocols across the country’s public hospitals.

Dr. Salako’s visit reaffirmed the government’s resolve to ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of location, receive timely and quality emergency healthcare.