Advancing the Rights of Patients in Nigeria: Analysing the Patients' Bill of Rights.

Abstract

The rights of persons who seek medical attention have been enshrined in national and international legal instruments, notwithstanding their health status. However, these rights are not fully secured in Nigeria due to some factors affecting the health care system. Using the doctrinal method of study, this article examines the concept of the rights of patients in Nigeria. It discusses the nature of the health system in Nigeria and highlights the rights stated in the Patients' Bill of Rights 2018 (Ng) (PBoR) as well as the corresponding duties of health care practitioners. The article shows that the rights of patients in Nigeria highlighted in the PBoR, have been continuously hindered by their weak enforcement, inadequate funding, insufficient health care providers, inadequate infrastructure, lack of awareness and illiteracy. It concludes that urgent steps need to be taken by the Nigerian government as well as other relevant stakeholders in addressing these issues.