By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A Bill seeking to prohibit and criminalize the detention of patients by hospital authorities over non-payment of medical bills has scaled the second reading in the Imo State House of Assembly.
The Source reports that it has almost become the rule rather than an exception for patients unable to immediately meet up with their financial obligations to be indefinitely kept, pending when payment is made.
In some instances, patients from very poor background have had to spend even a whole year or more as detainees at medical facilities , particularly those being managed by private individuals or organizations.
More often than not the patients or their relations are forced into slave labour at the hospitals in order to defray bills and regain freedom.
The sponsor of the Bill, Hon Kennedy Ibeh, representing Obowo State Constituency, decried the ugly situation whereby patients are detained over their inabilities to pay their medical bills.
According to him, such practice represents a big anomaly and inhuman disposition that urgently needs redress.
The piece of legislation entitled “Imo State Medical Detention Prohibition Law”, when passed and assented to, among other things seek to criminalize the detention of patients over non-fullfilment of financial obligations”, Hon Ibe stated.
It will also provide alternative means of settling issues arising from inability to offset medical expenses , rather than seizing and dehumanizing patients, according to law maker
Hon Ibe, who led the debate of the Bill at plenary, described the practice of detaining patients on account of non-payment of medical bills as a gross infringement on their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
He emphasized the need to strike a balance between the interests of hospital authorities and less privileged patients.
Urging unalloyed and total support for the proposed piece of legislation, Hon Ibe expressed confidence and optimism that when operational, the law will potentially boost the human rights credentials of Imo state both at national and global stages.
He, also, expressed strong conviction that the law would assist the State in assessing funds from global monetary and donor agencies who may be willing to support the protection of human rights and other privileges of the people.
Similarly, the law maker noted that the law would assist in alleviating the plights of indigent Imo citizens as well as position the state for international human rights grants.
In their own contributions, most of the legislators expressed the strong belief that the Bill, when fully operational, would impact positively the image of Imo State, and attract donor support and health partnerships .
Hons Uche Agabige Orsu state Constituency, Kanayo Onymaechi , Owerri West state Constituency and Chisom Ojukwu , representing Nkwere state Constituency, while lauding the Bill, lamented that the culture of detaining patients not infringes on their rights,but in some cases psychologically affects them
They noted that the Bill will ensure justice for people who are denied medical treatment over their inability to make down payment .
While ruling to pass the Bill for the Committee stage, the Speaker of the House Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, directed the members to report back to House on October 28, 2025.
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