GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATION OF NATIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICES IN NIGERIA
Guideline · Health
Guidelines establish standards and protocols for operating ambulance services in Nigeria. They target ambulance operators, emergency technicians, and state agencies. This standardizes emergency care to reduce deaths from medical crises.
GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATION OF NATIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICES IN NIGERIA
What Is This Policy?
Guidelines establishing operational standards, protocols, and regulations for the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical care and ambulance services across Nigeria.
Who Does It Target?
Ambulance service operators in public and private sectors Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics State emergency medical services agencies Hospital emergency departments receiving ambulance transfers
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Standardise ambulance operations, improve pre-hospital emergency care quality, reduce preventable deaths from trauma and medical emergencies, and establish a coordinated national emergency medical services system.
Key Features
Service Standards: Prescribes minimum staffing, equipment, and vehicle standards for ambulance services at different levels of care. Personnel Certification: Requires all ambulance crew to hold valid EMT or paramedic certification from a recognised training institution. Call and Dispatch Protocols: Establishes standard protocols for receiving emergency calls, dispatching ambulances, and triaging calls by priority. Clinical Protocols: Provides evidence-based clinical protocols for managing common emergency conditions in the pre-hospital setting.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Being implemented across state emergency medical services agencies Coverage: Nationwide Beneficiaries: Patients requiring emergency medical services and trauma care Funding: Federal and state government health budgets
How to Access
Ambulance operators must meet facility and equipment standards before commencing services EMTs must obtain certification from an accredited training institution Private ambulance services must register with the relevant state health authority Application method: Engage the Federal Ministry of Health or state Ministry of Health for licensing and certification.
Important Terms
Ambulances must carry minimum prescribed equipment at all times Ambulance crew cannot refuse to treat or transport a patient in a life-threatening emergency Certification must be renewed periodically
Official Resources
Website: https://www.health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health - Emergency Medical Services Department
Legal Framework
Issued under the authority of the Federal Ministry of Health pursuant to the National Health Act 2014. Operates alongside the National Ambulance Policy, the Road Traffic Act, the Federal Road Safety Commission Act, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act. Aligns with WHO Emergency Medical Services guidelines and the Emergency Medical Technicians Act framework. Consistent with SDG 3.1 on maternal mortality and road accident response.