Prominent health experts and civil society advocates have demanded an impartial investigation into a disturbing incident at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja, following the circulation of a viral video allegedly capturing staff negligence at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.
The footage appears to show healthcare workers hesitating to assist an accident victim, citing the absence of gloves and insufficient staff to lift the injured individual from a vehicle. The incident sparked widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of emergency care protocols in Nigeria.
Responding swiftly, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter. The hospital’s management has countered claims made in the video, asserting that medical supplies, including gloves and patient transfer tools, were available at the time.
In a statement, FMC’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Obadiah Gana, confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and promised that the findings would be made public. He emphasised the facility’s commitment to treating all patients, including unconscious individuals, without delay. Gana also urged patients to utilise feedback channels, including QR codes and dedicated helplines, to report service issues.
However, health experts argue that the incident reflects deeper systemic failings. Dr Chinyere Nwosu, a public health policy analyst, said: “This should not be dismissed as an isolated case. We need a truly independent, multi-stakeholder panel to review the facts transparently and propose sustainable reforms.”
Other civil society voices, such as Akin Ogundele, a health rights advocate, stressed the need for cultural change within emergency care units. “One moment of inaction in an emergency can undo years of progress,” he said, calling for urgent staff retraining in patient-centred care.
Stakeholders also pushed for the nationwide rollout of unified emergency response protocols, and better protection for whistleblowers to enhance accountability in public health facilities.
