MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE IN UNIVERSITIES AND ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS

Medical negligence in universities has become a growing concern, particularly in campus health centres that are often poorly managed and inadequately supervised. Many students depend on these centres to avoid the high costs of external medical care, and any failure in service delivery can lead to serious consequences, including loss of life.

Medical negligence occurs when students do not receive adequate, timely, or appropriate medical attention from campus health services. Meanwhile, several factors contribute to this problem. Many university health centres are understaffed and unable to cater to the large student population. There is also a shortage of essential medical equipment and basic drugs such as paracetamol.

Long waiting queues for medical attention further worsen the situation, and in some cases, unqualified personnel are left to handle critical conditions, increasing the likelihood of errors and poor outcomes.

The impact of medical negligence on students can be severe and, in extreme cases, fatal. It also creates fear and anxiety, discouraging students from seeking medical help when needed.

There have been reported incidents in several Nigerian universities:
At the University of Cross River, a group of students and a staff member were involved in a serious accident. Delayed medical attention reportedly led to the death of three students and one staff member.
At Covenant University, a 500-level student died after collapsing during football training, allegedly due to a lack of emergency medical equipment.
At the University of Benin, a student reportedly died due to a delayed ambulance response.
At the University of Ibadan, a student collapsed during a sporting event and died due to the absence of an available ambulance.
At Obafemi Awolowo University, a final-year student reportedly died due to negligence by health officials.
Such incidents often lead to mass protests, unrest, and even school closures, as seen in some institutions.
To address this issue, university authorities must acknowledge the problem and take decisive action. Increased funding for campus health centres is essential to ensure the availability of qualified medical personnel, adequate equipment, and necessary medications. Regular training and retraining of health workers will improve the quality of care. Additionally, strict medical protocols must be established and enforced to prevent avoidable complications and deaths. Government authorities must also intervene by investigating reported cases of negligence and ensuring accountability, rather than ignoring these critical issues.

By Ejike Favour