THE PATIENT AS A CONSUMER: EVALUATING THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMISSION IN PROMOTING MEDICAL LIABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The emergence of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as a regulatory actor in Nigeria’s healthcare sector marks a significant shift toward recognising the patient as a consumer entitled to legal protection under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. This paper evaluates the FCCPC’s evolving role in promoting medical liability and accountability through the enforcement of consumer rights within the healthcare context. It examines the Act’s key provisions that extend consumer safeguards to patients, ensuring the right to information, fair treatment, and quality service delivery. The study analyses the Commission’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and professional bodies in developing and implementing the Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) 2018, as well as its investigative interventions in medical negligence cases. However, challenges such as jurisdictional overlap with professional regulatory bodies like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and limited patient awareness of their role and function continue to impede functionality. The paper recommends strengthening collaboration between the FCCPC and these professional regulatory bodies, as well as increasing awareness campaigns to sensitize patients on FCCPC complaint mechanisms. It concludes that such coordinated efforts are essential to institutionalizing patient protection and enhancing the accountability of healthcare institutions, which will, in turn, strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.