Reps to probe medical consultants over negligence, private practice

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to investigate allegations of medical negligence, professional misconduct, and divided attention among consultants and medical personnel at the National Hospital, Abuja, and other federal teaching hospitals across the country. This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, who raised […]

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to investigate allegations of medical negligence, professional misconduct, and divided attention among consultants and medical personnel at the National Hospital, Abuja, and other federal teaching hospitals across the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, who raised concerns over declining standards of healthcare delivery and the erosion of public trust in Nigeria’s top tertiary health institutions.

Presenting the motion, Onuakalusi said the National Hospital, Abuja, established by Act No. 36 of 1999 as the apex referral hospital in the country, had drifted from its core mandate of providing high-quality healthcare, training, and research due to systemic inefficiencies and ethical lapses among staff.

He expressed concern over revelations that the hospital’s workforce had dropped from 3,000 to about 2,500 due to brain drain and poor motivation, a situation he said had severely affected patient supervision and care delivery.

• Trump signs bill ending longest shutdown in US history
• When Press Releases Wear Robot Tone: How Language Use Impacts Public Trust

“There are increasing reports of consultants and medical personnel abandoning their official duties to run or work in private hospitals during official hours.

“This unethical practice has led to divided attention, poor supervision of junior doctors, neglect of patients, and, tragically, avoidable deaths,” he said.

Onuakalusi cited a ten-year retrospective study at the National Hospital showing an autopsy rate of only 11%, with haemorrhage, cardiac shock, and coma as leading causes of death, a situation he said underscored inefficiency and poor monitoring of patient outcomes.

Despite the hospital reportedly generating over N400 million monthly in internally generated revenue, Onuakalusi lamented that the quality of care remains alarmingly low, with rising complaints of negligence and lack of accountability.

The House, while adopting the motion, mandated an ad-hoc committee to be constituted to among others carry out a nationwide audit of medical consultants and doctors in all federal teaching hospitals, including the National Hospital.

The committee is to also verify employment records and contractual status of consultants; ascertain involvement in private practice during work hours; review doctor-to-patient ratios and attendance logs.

The committee is to also assess mortality and morbidity rates linked to consultant service delivery; and examine administrative and financial management practices in the hospitals.

The House further mandated collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to ensure a credible audit aimed at eliminating quackery and restoring professionalism in the health sector.

The ad-hoc committee is to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.