For years, countless Gambians in life-threatening situations were denied urgent medical care at hospitals simply because they arrived without a police escort. Victims of accidents, assaults, and other emergencies were left waiting sometimes resulting in fatalities while hospitals awaited procedural clearance. This systemic failure, rooted in outdated and inhumane protocol, drew the sustained criticism and attention of Hon. Abdoulie Njai.
Driven by the belief that no one should die at a hospital gate, Hon. Njai raised the issue repeatedly in parliament, demanding immediate and institutional reform of emergency care procedures. His advocacy has now borne fruit.
In a decisive response, the Office of the Inspector General of Police, in communication with the Ministry of Health, has directed every hospital in the country to treat emergency patients immediately, regardless of whether a police report accompanies them. This directive, now circulated to all health facilities via the Department of Health, is not a temporary adjustment. It is a permanent, system-wide reform aimed at saving lives.
“When seconds decide survival, bureaucracy must never override humanity,” Hon. Njai stated, emphasising the moral weight behind the reform.
Hon. Njai’s success underscores how legislative oversight, when rooted in empathy and justice, can realign public institutions with the needs of the people.
As this policy takes effect, Hon. Njai has pledged to closely monitor its implementation, ensuring that no Gambian is ever again denied emergency care at the hospital gates.
He said vigilance reflects a deeper commitment and turning policy into protection and representation into results.
