The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has inducted 211 foreign-trained doctors.
Of the total number of inductees, 205 of the medical and dental graduates participated and passed this year’s assessment examination, while the remaining six took part in previous examinations. Although they were successful, they could not be inducted for some reasons.
Lafiya360 reports that the Council revealed that more graduates from Ukraine failed the assessment examination. It stressed that it would continue to maintain its standard according to global practice in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Speaking during the induction ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, while stating that the government will prioritize the welfare of health workers, also disclosed that plans have been concluded to double the population of doctors and dentists from 5,000 to 10,000 from next academic year.
He stated that this move is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda to reposition the health sector and tackle the menace of brain drain.
He said, “The mass exodus of licensed medical doctors and other health professionals to more developed countries, which has brought significant disruptions to Nigeria’s health care system, will be discouraged by making our health care environment more attractive through strategic investments in infrastructure and prioritizing the welfare of all health practitioners.
“To this end, what pulls or pushes our health workers will be intercepted through a data driven intervention by the Federal Government.
“We have just recently put in place plans and strategies to double the populations of doctors and dentists from 5,000 to 10,000 from the next academic year by increasing admission into our medical and dental institutions.
“These strategies will have a direct impact on our protocols, but most importantly, help to fulfill the aspirations of our teaming youths who want to study medicine and dentistry but due to the limited opportunity due to low carrying capacity for clinical training, have not been able to achieve their dreams.
“Equally, we shall expand these opportunities to all other health professionals like pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, community health extension workers, radiographers, and others.
“Although this will be in phases, we shall create room to produce more and excess because globally, there’s a shortage of health manpower, which has been estimated at a shortage of 18 million people.
“You will agree with me that just over 3,000 doctors annually produced by the country remain grossly inadequate if we must achieve a significant milestone in the coming years. So we need to double the rate of production of health workers or more.
“On funding, we shall continue to advocate for more funding into the health sector. The Coordinating Minister and I have identified this as a key gap, and while we work towards domestics and other forms of resource’s mobilization, again we intend to increase our value chain that puts us in a position to attract more international grants and funding.
“We are determined to promote industrial harmony in the health sector by discouraging industrial action in the health sector that has bedeviled the system.
“The primary healthcare (PHC) system in Nigeria will be better positioned to address the several challenges that have impeded the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare services through a renewed drive to promote health at the grassroot.
“Attaining UHC, we shall ensure that all individuals and communities have access to essential health services without suffering financial hardships, by optimizing health insurance, promoting equitable access, and investing in healthcare infrastructure amongst others.
“Policy reforms, advocacy for increased funding, implementation of health insurance schemes, investment in healthcare infrastructure, health education campaigns, and initiatives to improve equity in access to healthcare services and finally halting medical tourism.”
While urging the new inductees to stay true to their calling, in line with the hippocratic oath, the Minister said, “I encourage you and remind you today that you are being inducted into a noble profession and this profession is guided by strict ethics that always prioritize your health and the health and wellbeing of your patients.”
The Registrar of the Council, Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi stated that the number of inductees this year is significantly lower than previous inductions. This year’s induction saw about 24.7 per cent passed the examination from the over 700 candidates that applied.
He said, “We have no intention of lowering the standard, it’s a global practice, and every country has it. Horsemanship is structured in such a way that you cannot subvert or circumvent it. They must complete 12 uninterrupted weeks in each of the postings. With 52 weeks in a year, they must spend 12 uninterrupted weeks in 4 mandatory postings, while the last four weeks are for leave.
“If the horsemanship is not completed, it will be revealed in real time because our system is automated.
“Our standard is our priority and that’s why Nigerian doctors are in high demand abroad, because our standard is high.”
He urged the new inductees to recognize their limit while discharging their duties, collaborate more with their colleagues, especially senior colleagues, and shun any form of temptation.