BIG STORYHealth
NARD rejects bill imposing six-month jail term for doctors over emergency delays
Updated 10:04 WAT, · first published 6 Nov 2026, 12:09 WAT · 6 outlets reporting
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors said it rejected a proposed amendment to the National Health Act that would impose a six-month jail term or a fine of up to N300,000 on healthcare professionals for delayed emergency care, according to Daily Post. The association described the amendment as punitive and warned it could trigger a nationwide strike, Premium Times reported. NARD President Dr Ogar Idoko said the legislation would criminalise doctors for systemic failures, as noted by Nigerian Eye.
What we know
- NARD rejected a bill that would impose a six-month jail term or N300,000 fine on doctors for delayed emergency treatment
- The amendment was proposed to the National Health Act
- NARD called the proposal punitive
- The association warned of a possible nationwide strike
- Dr Ogar Idoko, NARD president, issued a statement in Calabar
Sources
- NARD rejects Bill seeking six-month jail term for doctors, threatens strike – Daily Post,
- Doctors reject six-month jail term, fine for delayed emergency care – Punch,
- Resident Doctors Reject Bill Seeking Jail Term for Delayed Emergency Care – Nigerian Eye,
- Emergency delays: Doctors kick bill proposing six-month jail term – The Eagle Online,
- Resident doctors reject proposed six-month jail term over emergency care delays, threaten nationwide strike – Premium Times,
- Emergency care: Doctors reject jail bill, threaten nationwide strike – Punch,
- NARD Rejects Bill Seeking Jail Term, Fine Over Emergency Treatment Delays – Leadership,
Updates
- – Now also reported by Leadership
- – Summary updated with new reporting
- – Now also reported by Premium Times
- – Story published - 4 outlets
This page groups reports from the outlets above; headlines belong to their publishers. Summary written by our automated desk from multiple reports. How we work.
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