By Bababunmi Agbebi
Edited by Sunkanmi Adewunmi
Nigeria’s National Assembly has begun considering a series of transformative healthcare reforms aimed at tackling pressing ethical, regulatory, and quality-of-care challenges within the nation’s health system. At the heart of these efforts is a growing concern expressed by lawmakers over the increasing number of Nigerians resorting to selling their organs often out of financial desperation and without adequate understanding of the severe health consequences.
During a public hearing in Abuja convened by the House Committee on Healthcare Services, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka highlighted the urgent need for a stronger legal and regulatory framework. According to him, the National Assembly is pursuing far-reaching reforms to curb unethical medical practices, protect citizens, and ensure lifesaving medical procedures operate under stringent oversight.
The Speaker noted that the proposed legislation is designed to:
- Close regulatory and ethical gaps currently exploited in organ harvesting and transplantation.
- Establish uniform standards across different areas of medical practice.
- Create safer and more transparent systems that protect both patients and healthcare providers.
Hon. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, also reaffirmed the committee’s resolve to adopt a transparent, consultative approach. He emphasized that the reforms are driven by the need to strengthen the healthcare system holistically and ensure equitable access to high-quality services for all Nigerians.
Magaji underscored that the public hearing and legislative review process will incorporate diverse perspectives from medical experts, civil society groups, regulators, and citizens, ensuring that new laws reflect both best practices and Nigeria’s unique healthcare realities.
Key Bills Under Consideration
The session examined seven health-related bills, with three notable proposals standing out due to their potential impact on ethical medical practice and service quality:
1. Bill to Establish a Regulatory Body for Organ Harvesting, Transplantation, and Donations
This bill seeks to create a dedicated authority responsible for:
- Regulating organ donation and transplantation procedures
- Ensuring strict adherence to ethical standards
- Preventing exploitation, trafficking, and medically unsafe practices
- Protecting donors, recipients, and medical professionals through clear guidelines and oversight
The proposed body is expected to set a robust legal foundation to deter illegal organ markets and safeguard vulnerable populations.
2. Establishment of the Nigeria Surrogacy Regulatory Commission
With surrogacy becoming more common but largely unregulated, this bill proposes a body to:
- Monitor and supervise surrogacy arrangements
- Establish ethical and legal standards
- Protect the rights of surrogate mothers, intended parents, and children
- Prevent exploitation and ensure medical and psychological care throughout the surrogacy process
This would be Nigeria’s first formal regulatory structure dedicated to surrogacy.
3. Amendments to the National Health Act (2014)
The proposed amendments aim to modernize Nigeria’s principal health law by creating:
- A National Quality Accreditation Commission — to set quality benchmarks and ensure compliance across healthcare institutions.
- A Federal Tertiary Health Institutions Commission — to enhance governance, accountability, and efficiency in the management of teaching hospitals and other federal tertiary facilities.
These amendments seek to improve both service delivery and health outcomes nationwide.
A Step Toward a More Ethical and Efficient Healthcare System
Together, the proposed laws represent a significant step toward a more accountable, transparent, and patient-centered healthcare system. By addressing deficiencies in regulation, ethical oversight, and institutional governance, the National Assembly aims to:
- Protect vulnerable Nigerians from dangerous medical exploitation
- Establish global-standard practices in organ and reproductive medicine
- Promote quality care across all tiers of the healthcare sector
- Strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s medical institutions
If passed, these reforms could reshape the landscape of Nigerian healthcare, offering stronger protections and improved services for millions of citizens.
