The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says the court judgment affirming its powers to investigate complaints on medical negligence confirms that no commercial service sector is beyond lawful consumer protection accountability.
Mr Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, who said this in a statement by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, hailed the judgment, describing it as symbolic.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judgment was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, following a suit filed by Life Bridge Medical Diagnostic Centre Ltd.
Bello said that the judgment confirmed that no commercial service sector was beyond lawful consumer protection accountability.
He said the decision of the court affirmed that consumers were entitled to protection and lawful redress in all sectors where services were provided for value, including healthcare.
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Bello said that the decision affirmed the principle that sector-specific professional regulation and consumer protection oversight were distinct statutory functions that could operate side by side in the public interest.
He said that the commission’s role was not to replace professional bodies or sector regulators, but to ensure that consumers who paid for services were treated fairly and received standards consistent with law.
According to him, the judgment confirms that no commercial service sector is beyond lawful consumer protection accountability.
He said that the Commission remained committed to constructive engagement with healthcare providers, professional bodies, regulators, and stakeholders to promote quality service delivery, accountability, and stronger consumer confidence.
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The commission quoted the judge as saying that healthcare services fall within the category of services subject to consumer protection oversight under the Act.
”The Court further held that where a complaint borders on consumer satisfaction, such issues may fall within the commission’s consumer protection mandate, notwithstanding that the sector is also professionally regulated.
”The Court recognised a clear distinction between the professional regulation and discipline of medical practitioners remained within the remit of relevant professional bodies, and consumer protection oversight relating to the quality, fairness.”(NAN)
