President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a groundbreaking policy providing free emergency medical treatment for the first 48 hours to all Nigerians. The initiative, part of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), aims to ensure timely and equitable access to emergency care across public and private hospitals nationwide.

Professor Saleh Yuguda, Director-General of the National Blood Service Commission, highlighted that the federal government will cover treatment costs within the first 48 hours of any emergency. NEMSAS is designed to provide a structured, sustainable nationwide emergency response system capable of saving lives.

The program operationalizes the Emergency Medical Treatment Gateway under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, unifying previously fragmented emergency services. Dr. Emuren Doubra, National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, emphasized that this coordinated approach allows vulnerable Nigerians to access life-saving care without upfront payment. The World Health Organization has expressed support, underlining the need for sustainable financing to ensure the program’s success across all states.