Senate passes Emergency Medical Services Agency Bill

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Senate has passed a bill to establish the National Emergency Medical Services Agency, after the consideration of a report by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to, among others, ensure that all Nigeriansa comprehensiveo early, good and quality emergency medical service and critical care when needed.
According to the lawmaker, the agency when established would provide assistance for the development of a comprehensive area emergency medical services system in Nigeria.
“Mr. President and Distinguished Colleagues, the country lacks a robust emergency healthcare service.
“Therefore, our legislative mandate to establish one at this time will improve our decaying healthcare system through the provision of better and reliable institutional framework for an effective and efficient emergency medical service in Nigeria”, Oloriegbe said.
In another development, the senate also received President Muhammadu Buhari’s submission of the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for consideration yesterday.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, made this known while reading an accompanying letter with the submission from the executive arm of government.
President Buhari in the letter commended the upper chamber for its commitment towards sustaining the restoration of the January to December financial timeline under the ninth assembly.
While seeking the expeditious consideration of the National Assembly, the President explained that its timely passage would facilitate the early preparation of the 2022 budget based on approved parameters by the upper chamber.
The letter titled ‘Submission of the Federal Government of Nigeria 2022 – 2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper’ reads: