Treat Gunshot Victims First, Police Report Can Wait — Olamitoye
By TOSI ORE
Medical expert and Founder of Ibadan Central Hospital, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, has called on Nigerian hospitals to prioritise saving the lives of gunshot and robbery victims before demanding police reports. He warned that unnecessary treatment delays have cost many lives that doctors could have saved.
Speaking in Ibadan on Tuesday, Olamitoye advised medical institutions to establish direct communication channels with local police divisions to ensure faster response and coordination during emergencies.
“We must keep the patient alive first, then request for police reports, hospital cards, and other formalities later,” Olamitoye said.
He explained that if victims or their relatives cannot immediately provide a report, hospitals should notify the police directly while continuing treatment to prevent fatal delays.
Turning to the issue of medical tourism, Olamitoye noted that Nigerian doctors are highly competent but often limited by poor infrastructure, low welfare, and outdated equipment. Despite these challenges, he said many doctors in Nigeria successfully handle complex medical cases and perform even better abroad when provided with modern tools and adequate support.
“The problem is not the doctors, but the environment they work in,” he added. “Government must urgently address infrastructure decay, welfare, and the high cost of medical training to curb brain drain.”
Recalling his time as a student at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Olamitoye said there were no power or water shortages then, unlike the current situation that drives many patients abroad.
“Foreign countries value Nigerian doctors because they are well-trained. With better conditions at home, they would deliver the same excellence here,” he stressed.
He urged the government to invest in healthcare infrastructure and medical education, noting that improving working conditions would not only reduce medical tourism but also restore public confidence in Nigeria’s health system.
