By: Binta Jaiteh
The Library and Research Department of the National Assembly has raised serious concerns over the requirement for police reports before patients involved in accidents or crime-related injuries can receive emergency medical care.
The research was commissioned in response to a request by a member of the National Assembly to explore ways patients could access urgent medical support without first obtaining a police report.
“The requirement for police reports before providing emergency treatment to patients with crime or accident-related injuries is a serious public health and human rights concern. It has caused significant delays in accessing life-saving medical care, undermining national efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage and contradicting the fundamental principles of sustainable health,” the report states.
According to the study, the right to emergency medical treatment is immediate and absolute and cannot be delayed. As a state party to both the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), The Gambia is legally obliged to protect the right to health and the right to life by ensuring timely medical care.
“The African Charter specifically requires states to take necessary measures to guarantee medical attention when people are sick, while the ICESCR echoes this duty. Interpreted in the Gambian context, these obligations mean that no person should be denied or delayed emergency treatment due to the absence of a police report,” the report emphasizes.
The study also notes that many African countries have recognized the dangers of delaying emergency care and have adopted the principle of “treat first, report later” to ensure patients receive immediate attention.
“Examining these jurisdictions offers valuable lessons for The Gambia. Insight drawn from such analysis can help bridge the gap between patient rights on paper and life-saving practices,” the report concludes.
Currently, The Gambia lacks statutory or constitutional provisions that clearly guarantee emergency medical treatment. The report calls for urgent legislation to strengthen accountability and ensure timely medical care for all patients.
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By: Binta Jaiteh The Library and Research Department of the National Assembly has raised serious concerns over the requirement for…
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