Late Greatness Olorunfemi
The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC) has said it has opened an investigation into the case of Greatness Olorunfemi and her being allegedly denied medical attention at the Maitama District Hospital in Abuja, leading to her death.
FCCPC’s Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Babatunde Irukera said this in a statement signed on Saturday.
The FCCPC’s Executive Vice-Chairman said that the Commission was aware of the sad and unfortunate incident that seemed to start as criminal activity where the victim, Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi appeared to have been attacked by criminal elements, and apparently thrown out of a moving vehicle.
The Commission commiserated with Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi’s family, friends and associates who are affected by this tragic loss.
Eyewitness accounts have it that Greatness Olorunfemi had been pushed off a moving vehicle by a criminal gang, popularly called ‘one chance’ along the Maitama-Kubwa highway in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Sympathisers at the scene took the victim to Maitama General Hospital, Abuja but the Nurses and Doctor on duty refused to give her emergency medical care, saying they wouldn’t attend to her until they could receive a Police report.
An eyewitness said that Greatness therefore died twenty minutes after she had been taken to the hospital and denied medical attention.
A viral audio message recording in which one of the eye witnesses who took the late Greatness Olorunfemi to Maitama General Hospital, noted that another crime victim was brought into the hospital for medical treatment by policemen, a few minutes after good samaritans had brought Greatness into the hospital, and was also refused treatment.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights, (PBoR) launched by the Federal Government in 2018 was designed to protect patients’ rights, promote their safety, and ensure that they received high-quality medical care that meets their needs.
The seventh item listed on the PBoR states Access to Emergency care, signifying that a patient has the right to be administered emergency care at a health facility.
The FCCPC boss therefore said that the Commission was immediately engaging relevant stakeholders including the Office of the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment for the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).
Irukera said: “Of particular concern is if Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi died on account of failures implicated in the Commission’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) or other enforceable legal instruments regarding attention and care to patients generally, and more specifically, in emergency situations where victims of criminal conduct require medical attention.
“Considering the facility concerned is a government institution, upon gathering initial evidence, and the Commission’s determination that there is sufficient basis/probable cause to proceed with a limited inquiry into the consumer protection aspects of the events or series thereof resulting in this fatality; the Commission immediately engaged relevant stakeholders including the Office of the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment for the FCT.”
The Commission welcomed the public statement of the Office of the Secretary announcing a transparent broad investigation including a Coroner’s Inquest; and commended the early intervention/measures pursued by the Office of the Secretary, including assurances to enhance process optimization and compliance with appropriate standards of patient care and safety in accordance with global standards.
The FCCPC said it looked forward to participating, supporting and collaborating with the FCT administration in this investigation and the aspirations expressed in the statement of the Office of the Secretary.
