The Federal Competition Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC will on Monday 16th next week span to Tuesday 17th commence a public inquiry/hearing into the circumstances that led to the negligence and subsequent demise of a gunshot victim/ patient, Miss Moradeun Balogun in Lagos.
The CEO and Director General of the agency, Babatunde Irukera says the need to convene the inquiry/hearing is to unravel both immediate and remote causes and to further forestall further reoccurrence in line with the best practices.
According to the top notcher of the Commission,the general impression by health care providers not to treat victims of special incidences like gunshots and armed robbery attacks needed to be ressolve in view of dire consequences of such awkward decisions against humanity.
The Commission express concern on the alleged refusal of both the two facilities in Gbagada area of Lagos to give access to adequate health care of the gunshot victim, that eventually led to the death of Miss Moradeun Balogun.
He frowned at the position of the health care provider and the desire of the commission to hold a public inquiry based on the position of the law as amended or as in existence.
The event tagged “RE- Miss Moradeun Balogun ; Date Of Loss December 2nd 2019. Possible violation of patient/consumer rights under the federal competition and consumer protection act,national health act and extant laws in providing emergency medical attention /urgent care”
An investigation conducted soon after the event in December 2nd 2019, was geared to unravel the operational guidelines in relation to actors and victiim rights and access to immediate medical attention which involve the FCCPC act, National patient act, patients rights act,extant police and other law enforcement protocols, regulations, directives, guidelines or sundry enactments.
Even though,it was reported in one of the sitting of the Nigerian Senate in 2018,that a resolution was reached on the floor to set aside the draconian provision by hospitals of a police report before treatment of victim of gun shots and armed robbery attacks,after a youth corps lady due for passing out parade the next day, was shot and denied medical attention by a hospital in Abuja hospitals and police which led to her death,the insistence on toeing the archaic laws against the new provision had become a subject of national discourse.
The event being organised within the operational guidance and act of the commission,is expected to feature stakeholders from Federal and Lagos State goverrment.
The Commission had embarked on total overhaul of systems of supplies and services in all our national and international engagements to address both deliberate and operational lapses prevalent in all areas against the people.
Below is the copy of the letter obtained by the OBSERVERS TIMES