Reps reject bill to regulate overseas treatment for public officials

The House of Representatives voted out a bill seeking to regulate overseas medical treatment being sought by public officials.

The proposed law was killed in the third reading during Tuesday’s plenary session.

The report on the Bill for an Act to Amend the National Health Act 2014 to Regulate International Trips for Medical Treatment by Public Officers to Strengthen the Health Institutions for Efficient Service Delivery was considered by the Committee of the Whole.

While debating the report, the lawmakers claimed that the legislation would breach the rights of public officials.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Lasun Yusuff, said the bill would discriminate against elected officials.

He said, “This bill is against my fundamental human rights. There are two fundamental wrongs in this bill. It is against human rights and it is discriminatory. Do not let us do a debate on this bill.”

Mr Razak Atunwa, from Kwara State, alleged that the bill was targeted at public officials over the mismanagement of the health care sector.

He said, “The fact that I am a public servant does not mean I have given up my rights. If the government has failed in providing hospitals, we cannot punish someone for it. The intention is right, but better funding for training of doctors, better funding for hospitals is the right way to go.”

The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Mohammed Wase, from Plateau State, urged the House to “throw away” the bill.

He said, “I was in hospital in Nigeria for a checkup and they said I was fine. Friends encouraged me to travel (abroad) for a checkup and I did, only to discover that I was not okay. I spent three months there. Now you are telling me to get approval. Please, this bill should be thrown out. Instead of banning people from travelling, we should create an enabling environment for people to invest in the health care sector.”

The House had similarly rejected a bill sponsored by Mr Sergius Ogun, seeking to regulate the sponsorship of children of public servants in foreign schools.