Harassment of health workers has drawn a strong warning from the Nigerian Medical Association, which says Nigerians must not blame doctors and other medical personnel for every death in hospitals.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned Nigerians against the harassment and intimidation of healthcare workers, stressing that doctors and other medical personnel should not be blamed for every death recorded in hospitals.
The President of the association, Prof. Afekhide-Ernest Omoti, gave the warning in an interview with journalists in Abuja, saying attacks on healthcare workers had become a serious concern requiring stronger institutional protection and public awareness.
Omoti said many cases of harassment stemmed from grief, frustration, miscommunication and misconceptions about the responsibilities and limitations of healthcare professionals.
He stressed that while the death of a loved one could be deeply painful, grieving relatives had no right to assault, threaten or damage the property of doctors, nurses or other healthcare workers.
“You can’t expect that everybody who comes to the hospital, no matter how bad it is, must survive,” Omoti said, warning against directing grief and anger at medical personnel.
According to the NMA president, many patients brought to hospitals are already in critical condition, and unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate them do not automatically mean that healthcare workers were responsible for their deaths.
He said the inability to save every critically ill patient was a reality of medical practice worldwide.
The warning comes amid growing concern over incidents of violence, intimidation and harassment involving healthcare workers across Nigerian health facilities. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said in August that 18 incidents of assault, intimidation or harassment had been reported across federal tertiary health institutions within the preceding 12 months.
Omoti said the issue gained greater attention following an incident in Akwa Ibom, which prompted engagement between the NMA and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He said he represented doctors on a ministerial committee established to examine the problem and recommend measures to improve the safety and protection of healthcare workers.
The Federal Government subsequently directed the immediate implementation of measures aimed at strengthening the protection of health workers nationwide.
Under the measures announced by the ministry, persons who assault, threaten, intimidate or harass healthcare workers may be investigated and prosecuted under applicable criminal, civil or administrative laws.
The Federal Government also directed federal tertiary health institutions to strengthen security arrangements, improve surveillance and access control, and establish systems for preventing and responding to violence within health facilities.
Omoti said hospitals also had a responsibility to provide adequate security and create safer working environments for healthcare professionals.
He noted that attacks had previously occurred frequently, involving patients, relatives, members of the public and, in some instances, security personnel.
The NMA president said some offenders went beyond confrontations within hospital premises and allegedly followed healthcare workers to their vehicles, where acts of intimidation and vandalism occurred.
He said such actions were unacceptable and could further worsen the challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Omoti also advocated wider installation of Closed-Circuit Television cameras in hospitals, particularly in emergency units and other sensitive areas, to improve surveillance and provide evidence when incidents occur.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has similarly directed health institutions to strengthen surveillance, security arrangements and incident-reporting systems while improving communication and conflict-prevention mechanisms.
The NMA president said poor communication between healthcare workers, patients and their relatives was one of the factors contributing to confrontations in hospitals.
He therefore called for increased public education and better communication to help patients and their families understand hospital procedures, treatment limitations and the realities facing overstretched healthcare facilities.
The Federal Government has also identified poor communication, prolonged waiting times, inadequate staffing, emotional distress and deficient security protocols among factors contributing to incidents of harassment and violence in health facilities.
Omoti urged Nigerians to seek redress through lawful channels whenever they had concerns about medical treatment rather than resorting to violence or intimidation.
He said protecting healthcare workers was essential to ensuring uninterrupted healthcare delivery and maintaining public confidence in Nigeria’s health system.
The NMA’s warning underscores the growing need for stronger security, improved communication and mutual respect between healthcare professionals, patients and their families as Nigeria works to create safer hospitals for both workers and those seeking medical care.
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