Practice Licence Now a Prerequisite for Medical Graduates’ Participation in NYSC Scheme
FG says only 40,000 of 78,000 registered doctors are in Nigeria
In an effort to stem quackery and untoward practices in the medical profession, the federal government yesterday barred all graduates of medicine from participating in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme until they qualify as medical doctors and secure practice licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The move came amid several complaints bordering on the level of competence displayed by some of the corps members posted mostly to rural areas to provide medical services.
Explaining the reason behind the council's decision, the Registrar/Chief Executive of MDCN, Dr. Abdulmumini Ibrahim, during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said there had been series of complaints by the NYSC management that all manner of persons parading themselves as medical doctors have become desperate to participate in the scheme.
"There has been increasing number of personal non-grata people who are not trained impersonating as medical doctor. The NYSC has inundated us with complaints. Those who have completed their one year internship have been given certificates. Most corps members are sent to rural areas. They can only go to service upon presentation of their practice licence," he stated.
He told journalists that the council took the decision during its plenary in 2014 and directed that the provision of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act that only persons who are registered by the MDCN can legally practise medicine or dentistry in Nigeria should be strictly adhered to.
Ibrahim said: "The council directed that the practice of admitting persons into the NYSC as doctors on the strength of receipt of payment of application fee for full registration be discontinued. The practice had become a means of quacks to gain advantage into the scheme.
"This decision was communicated to the NYSC and it was implemented with effect from the orientation camp in May, that only fully registered doctors should be admitted into the scheme. Accredited internship training centres were written informing them of this policy.
"The doctors were informed to submit their duly completed and properly signed forms, at least one month to the date of opening of the orientation camp. Most did and have received their certificates of full registration. A few have problems with their postings which have to be clarified and rectified before their names could be entered into the register."
The MDCN CEO further maintained that registration is a process and is much more than payment of the registration fee, while receipt is only an acknowledgment.
According to Ibrahim, "It requires about four weeks on the average to complete the process; it could take months if there are discrepancies or issues in the applicant's forms. The council is in city start touch with the NYSC and it has resolved to admit all those who have commenced their registration process but missed the October 28 camp, into the November 25 stream, while the registration is being processed for those eligible before the close of orientation camp. Those not eligible will wait till next batch; the problem is that people are in a hurry."
The MDCN has also commenced the review of the Act establishing the council with a view to revisiting the punishment meted to medical doctors who breach professional ethics.
According to Ibrahim, the over 78,000 registered medical doctors in Nigeria do not translate to those practising medicine across Europe and other parts of the world.
"There are over 78,000 doctors duly registered in Nigeria; but that does not translate to those practising in the country. The number practising in Nigeria are less than 40,000. The Act establishing the MDCN is long due for review. In other countries, disciplinary organs are free to fine law breakers, but not so in Nigeria. The Medical and Dental Tribunal cannot enforce more than what is within its mandate. The process of the review of the Act is already being completed," Ibrahim stated.