Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC–Delta) has urged the Federal Government to immediately activate and implement the Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT) funds as stipulated under Section A150 of the National Health Act, 2014.
The lawmaker, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, made the appeal in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview.
He explained that the EMT funds, derived from five per cent of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), were designed to support the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).
According to him, medical emergencies occur daily across Nigeria, not only in cases of blood loss, broken bones, or fading pulses, but also in tragic situations where lives are lost because hospitals demand deposits before treatment.
“This practice leaves many Nigerians to die from preventable conditions,” he said.
Nwoko added that more than 75 per cent of Nigerians still pay for healthcare out-of-pocket, one of the highest rates globally. He described the situation as dangerous, pushing millions into poverty and exposing citizens to poor health outcomes.
He recalled that the National Health Act, signed into law on October 31, 2014, was meant to create a strong legal framework for regulating, developing, and managing the nation’s health system.
“The aim was to raise healthcare standards, improve accessibility, and guarantee equitable service delivery for all Nigerians,” Nwoko said.
He explained that Section A150 of the Act establishes the BHCPF, funded through one per cent of the Federal Government’s consolidated revenue, in addition to grants from international donors and other approved sources.
The Act, he noted, provides clear allocations for the fund: 50 per cent to finance a basic minimum package of health services through the National Health Insurance Scheme; 20 per cent for procurement of essential drugs, vaccines, and consumables; and 15 per cent for the upkeep of healthcare facilities, equipment, and transport in eligible centres.
It also sets aside 10 per cent for developing human resources for primary healthcare, while five per cent is specifically earmarked for emergency medical treatment. This last portion is to be managed by a committee appointed by the National Council on Health.
Despite this clarity, Nwoko lamented that there has been no public evidence that the five per cent EMT allocation has ever been implemented or made available to Nigerians in urgent need.
“This failure defeats the very purpose of the provision,” he said.
The senator cited tragic cases to highlight the consequences. He recalled the death of Sen. Ibrahim Kontagora, who passed away after a hospital refused to perform surgery without an upfront deposit of 15,000 dollars.
He also mentioned Mrs. Akinbobola Folajimi, a pregnant woman denied treatment because her husband could not immediately pay N500,000.
“These cases renewed national attention on the weaknesses of Nigeria’s emergency health system,” he said.
Nwoko stressed that such incidents are not isolated. Every day, countless Nigerians die in emergencies because hospitals insist on deposits before care—an outright violation of Section A150 (2)(c) of the National Health Act, which mandates treatment without initial payment.
“The continued neglect of this provision undermines public confidence in the health sector, violates the spirit of the law, and disregards Nigeria’s constitutional duty to protect the right to life,” he said.
He therefore urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with the National Council on Health, to activate and operationalise the EMT Fund immediately.
He further asked the Federal Government to direct the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and other stakeholders to publish a transparent framework on how citizens can access the funds.
“The Senate should direct its committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) and Legislative Compliance to invite the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Executive Secretary of the NHIA, and the Director-General of the NPHCDA for a briefing on the BHCPF,” he said.
He stressed that such a briefing should focus on the five per cent EMT allocation.
Nwoko also called for the creation of a dedicated Emergency Medical Response System tied to the fund. This, he suggested, should include a toll-free emergency number, ambulance services, and designated hospitals required to deliver first-response treatment without delay.
He urged the Senate’s Health Committee to ensure strict oversight to guarantee the full implementation of the BHCPF.