Bill to end medical detention passes second reading in Imo

A bill to stop detention of patients who are unable to offset their medical bills on Friday, September 26, 2025 passed second reading at the Imo State House of Assembly.

Sponsor of the bill and member for Obowo Constituency Kennedy Ibeh submitted during plenary that the practice of detaining patients by hospitals over Inability to offset their medical expenses has become an anomaly requiring immediate redress.

Ibeh stated that the detention breaches human rights and dignity.

He said; “This bill touches on fundamental human rights. We have people who have become incarcerated in hospitals due to their inability to pay hospital bills.

“We should therefore have laws that have direct bearing on the lives of our people”.

Ibeh requested his colleagues to lend their support to the bill.

The bill co-sponsored by 14 members was supported by five others.

Following this, the speaker Chike Olemgbe announced that the bill had scaled second reading and thereafter assigned it to the House Committee on Health.

He also directed the committee to submit its report on 28 October 2025.

The speaker who hailed the bill as a public oriented one equally directed the Clerk of the House to set a date for public hearing.