Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has frowned at the
medical treatment of President Muhammadu Buhari abroad.
The senior lawyer said such an act not only constituted a gross
abuse of the rights of the less privileged but a serious reflection
of pervasive inequality among Nigerian citizens.
He said since such benefit cannot be enjoyed by all Nigerians
irrespective of their status and class, it was a sad reflection of
class differences in the country.
The lawyer also said that the federal government should
henceforth be responsible for the payment of ransom demanded by
kidnappers for any kidnapped Nigerian, stressing “the
responsibility of government is to protect our lives and
property.”
The human rights lawyer made the statement on Thursday at Afe
Babalola University, Ado Ekiti during the launching of a book
entitled, ‘Financing Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria’ written
by Dr Olaofe Ogundipe.
He said, “Let me say, if I am kidnapped today and I pay ransom
to secure my freedom, I will surely take FG to court to refund my
money because it is the responsibility of government to secure my
life.”
Falana further wondered why the president and other top
Nigerians like the late Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme could be
hurriedly flown abroad for medical treatments, while Nigerian
hospitals were being ill-equipped thereby causing death of poor
Nigerians who suffer lesser afflictions.
Falana spoke on the topic, ‘The Justiceability of Health As a
Human Right’, maintaining that the Section 17 of the constitution
and National Health Act 2014 made it a matter of imperative for
government to foot the medical bills of poor Nigerians, regretting
that these are not being implemented.
“In the last couple of years, President Buhari has been flown
abroad for medical treatment at public expense.
“In the same vein, the federal government recently announced
that it would pick up the medical bills of the late former Vice
President, Dr Ekwueme in a London hospital.
“While the nation’s leaders deserve the best medical treatment
for the preservation of their lives, it is our submission that the
FG must bear the medical bills of all citizens without
discrimination.
“This submission is anchored on Section 42 of the constitution
which has guaranteed the fundamental right of every citizen to
freedom from discrimination in a manner that no citizen shall be
accorded any special advantage over and above others.
“While it is correct to state that section 17(3) of the
constitution which has imposed a duty on state to ensure that there
are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons is not
justiceable, it is submitted that the fundamental right to health
which is inseparable to the right to life is enforceable”, he
said.
He called on the federal government to ensure the effectiveness
of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, by making it
affordable for every citizen.
“Instead of the healthcare providers to do the right thing, they
were only using the opportunity to cheat the subscribers by giving
them undeserving patronage for them to make more money”, he
alleged.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has frowned at the
medical treatment of President Muhammadu Buhari abroad.
The senior lawyer said such an act not only constituted a gross
abuse of the rights of the less privileged but a serious reflection
of pervasive inequality among Nigerian citizens.
He said since such benefit cannot be enjoyed by all Nigerians
irrespective of their status and class, it was a sad reflection of
class differences in the country.
The lawyer also said that the federal government should
henceforth be responsible for the payment of ransom demanded by
kidnappers for any kidnapped Nigerian, stressing “the
responsibility of government is to protect our lives and
property.”
The human rights lawyer made the statement on Thursday at Afe
Babalola University, Ado Ekiti during the launching of a book
entitled, ‘Financing Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria’ written
by Dr Olaofe Ogundipe.
He said, “Let me say, if I am kidnapped today and I pay ransom
to secure my freedom, I will surely take FG to court to refund my
money because it is the responsibility of government to secure my
life.”
Falana further wondered why the president and other top
Nigerians like the late Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme could be
hurriedly flown abroad for medical treatments, while Nigerian
hospitals were being ill-equipped thereby causing death of poor
Nigerians who suffer lesser afflictions.
Falana spoke on the topic, ‘The Justiceability of Health As a
Human Right’, maintaining that the Section 17 of the constitution
and National Health Act 2014 made it a matter of imperative for
government to foot the medical bills of poor Nigerians, regretting
that these are not being implemented.
“In the last couple of years, President Buhari has been flown
abroad for medical treatment at public expense.
“In the same vein, the federal government recently announced
that it would pick up the medical bills of the late former Vice
President, Dr Ekwueme in a London hospital.
“While the nation’s leaders deserve the best medical treatment
for the preservation of their lives, it is our submission that the
FG must bear the medical bills of all citizens without
discrimination.
“This submission is anchored on Section 42 of the constitution
which has guaranteed the fundamental right of every citizen to
freedom from discrimination in a manner that no citizen shall be
accorded any special advantage over and above others.
“While it is correct to state that section 17(3) of the
constitution which has imposed a duty on state to ensure that there
are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons is not
justiceable, it is submitted that the fundamental right to health
which is inseparable to the right to life is enforceable”, he
said.
He called on the federal government to ensure the effectiveness
of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, by making it
affordable for every citizen.
“Instead of the healthcare providers to do the right thing, they
were only using the opportunity to cheat the subscribers by giving
them undeserving patronage for them to make more money”, he
alleged.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/falana-faults-buhari-ekwuemes-treatment-abroad/