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  • Medical Council approves Badagry General Hospital for Housemanship training

    Medical Council approves Badagry General Hospital for Housemanship training

    In a significant boost to healthcare services in Badagry, the General Hospital has received approval from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to begin housemanship training for newly qualified doctors.

    This approval is set to transform the hospital into a major healthcare hub for the region, ensuring that Badagry residents have access to high-quality medical care and skilled medical professionals.

    Hon. Bonu Solomon, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, expressed his excitement over the development, calling it “great news” for the people of Badagry.

    He stated that in the coming months, the community will benefit from world-class medical facilities and trained personnel, a long-awaited development that will improve healthcare delivery in the area.

    Hon. Solomon also credited the proactive leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose efforts have been instrumental in making this achievement possible.

    He emphasised that the upgrade to the General Hospital and the approval for housemanship training were perfectly timed, as Badagry residents had been calling for enhanced medical services for years.

    “This is exactly what the constituency has been hoping for. With this upgrade and the approval for housemanship training, I can confidently say that the people of Badagry’s prayers have been answered,” Solomon remarked.

    The MDCN’s approval is expected to increase the hospital’s capacity to offer medical training, while also improving healthcare services for the local community.

    The lawmaker further highlighted that the development will lay the groundwork for the eventual transformation of Badagry General Hospital into a full-fledged teaching hospital.

    The people of Badagry, who have long awaited better healthcare facilities, are now looking forward to the positive changes that will come with this upgrade.

    Read Also: Nigerian Medical Council inducts 211 doctors

    The new developments signal a bright future for healthcare in the area, promising better medical care, training, and facilities for years to come.

     He said: “I am using this medium to thank the management and staff of Badagry GH for their dedication to quality health care delivery in Badagry. Once again, I appreciate Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his commitment to the development of Badagry. GH Badagry, forward ever, backwards never.”

    “The development is regarded as a significant enhancement for medical training in Lagos state, especially in the Badagry area.

    “It not only aids local doctors in completing their training but also promises to improve healthcare services in the Badagry division.”

  • Medical council warns against illegality

    The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) warned yesterday that a strike by doctors on training could disrupt their career.

    The MDCN said any strike by doctors on internship programme, would be against the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act Cap M8 LFN 2004 and the various subsidiary legislative documents.

    A statement by MDCN Acting Registrar, Tajudeen Sanusi, said doctors on internship were expected to finish their programmes within 12 calendar year.

    Any interruption for any reason, including embarking on strike, during any of the postings, would not be condoned.

    It urged heads of institutions and house  officers to report any doctor on internship who joined the strike.

    The statement reads: “The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN regulates medical and dental practice in Nigeria including clinical laboratory practice by members of the professions as stipulated by the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act Cap M8 LFN 2004 and the various subsidiary legislative documents flowing therefrom.

    “Due to the recent development in the health sector, Council is constrained to issue this public notice as guidance to practitioners and the general public.

    Medical and dental practitioners on the Provisional Register who are employed as House Officers (Interns), heads of health institutions where Internship Training for medical or dental graduates are conducted and the general public should note the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act in sections 1(2c), 8, 11, 12, the Rules and Guidelines that flow therefrom including the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria (2008 Ed) and Guidelines on Registration.

    “Provisional Registration is for the purpose of enabling young doctors undertake internship training in an approved hospital under the supervision of registered specialists. Provisional registration lapses after two years or immediately a doctor is signed off from internship. Generally, it is expected that on employment, interns should complete their postings within 12 calendar months.

    “During the internship, doctors and dentists are required to undertake 12 weeks’ uninterrupted postings in each of Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics and other relevant specialties for dentistry. Any interruption for any reason, including embarking on strike actions, during any of the postings, will not be condoned and should be reported immediately to the Chief Medical Director, Medical Director or Medical Superintendent of the internship training Institution.

    “Section 2d paragraph (iii) of Guidelines on Registration (2003 ed.) prescribes that “A supervising doctor who fails in his duties in this regard is liable to proceedings being commenced against him at the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal if his misdeed in the matter is brought to the notice of Council.

    “Embarking on strike actions by interns will lead to repeating of the posting(s) afresh without remuneration. Interns are therefore advised to avoid participation in activities like industrial actions that could lead to interruption in their postings.

    “Medical and dental practitioners should note that provisional registration does not guarantee automatic admittance to the Full Register. Full Registration is granted only on satisfactory completion of internship training.

    “Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors and Medical Superintendents should note their responsibilities to ensure that all doctors over whom they have administrative charge, abide by all extant regulations.

    This press release is hereby made for the purpose of guidance of members of the profession and the general public.”

  • Medical council to review punishment for doctors

    Medical council to review punishment for doctors

    The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) said yesterday that a review of the law governing the conduct of doctors had begun.

    The Registrar, Dr. Abdulmunin Ibrahim, said greater part of the work was concluded by the last board, which was dissolved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The review, among others, is aimed at ensuring commensurate punishment for erring doctors.

    The present law stipulates between three to six months suspension for any doctor, who falls foul of medical ethics.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, Ibrahim said the act setting up the council was obsolete and weak, as it could not mete out strong punishment to doctors found wanting in the discharge of their duties.

    He noted that the review became necessary, following the magnitude of cases of negligence against doctors, especially cases concerning life.

     

  • Medical Council visits ABUAD

    The Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC) has again affirmed the ‘fastest growing university’ status of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

    It said other descriptions of ABUAD, such as the ‘benchmark’, and a ‘reference point for other universities,’ among others, were apt.

    The NMDC said Africans are backward because they refuse to free themselves from colonial mentality.

    Speaking at the weekend during the Council accreditation panel’s visit to the four-year-old university for the accreditation of its medical programmes, the leader of the team, Prof Oluwole Ogunranti, said that he had not seen what he saw in ABUAD anywhere in Africa.

    Ogunranti, who confessed to being awe-stricken at the massive investment at ABUAD College of Medicine, noted that it is either that the octogenarian founder was not a Nigerian, and if he was, came before his time.

    Until his visit to ABUAD, Ogunranti, a professor of Anatomy, said he had always believed that no Nigerian who had grown up under colonialism, such as Babalola, would achieve such feat.

    His words: “When Aare Babalola came in and was introduced, I almost did not want to believe it. Honestly, I don’t know that it is possible for anybody who has passed through colonialism to achieve so much and have so much accolades showered on him while still alive.”

    He added: “By virtue of what I have just seen, I could understand that the man went through colonialism even more than I did, but he has librated himself. So he is making exploits in virtually everything he touches. I like what I heard about this university before I came here, but with what I have now seen, I am happy that there is hope for Nigeria.

    “It is only a man with human kindness flowing in his veins that would want to bequeath to humanity what nature denied him when he was growing up.”

    Ogunranti who further praised ABUAD students for their good conduct revealed that he has started some pioneering efforts in e-Medicine and would partner with ABUAD because of what he saw in the university.

    He wondered why African continues to be mere consumers of foreign technology and inventions instead of looking for ways of contributing her quota in technological development and advancement.

    “We are tired being mere consumers of foreign technologies; we should start developing things no matter how small. We must start from somewhere,” Ogunranti said.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, Babalola had told the NMDC team that he established the university at old age to correct the ills and rot in the nation’s education system which he saw as a two-time Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos.

    He assured the visitors that ABUAD’s medical programme will be different from others because the university itself was set up to make a difference and change for the better.

    According to the legal luminary, cooperation of well meaning Nigerians is central to the university’s growth in line with her dream of reforming education.

     

  • Medical Council to train natural health practitioners

    The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has been urged to conduct a training for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners with 10 years experience and above.

    This was part of the resolution adopted by the Association of Physicians of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (APCAM) at a meeting in Ikeja, Lagos, following the resolution of the crisis rocking the group.

    The crisis was resolved by Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.

    Briefing his colleagues on the outcome of the meeting, a Chiropractor, Prof Magnus Atilade, said it was gladdening that the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) would soon be reopened, adding: “ The World Health Organisation (WHO) would soon send a document stating the requirements for setting up and running a standard college of complementary and alternative medicine to the Federal Government as requested by it.”

    The stakeholders comprising members of APCAM; National Complementary and Alternative Medicine Association (NACAMA); All Nigeria Homeopathic Medical Association (ANHMA) and a representative of MDCN, Dr Victor Gbenro resolved that there were need to upgrade practitioners’ training beforere registration by the MDCN using the Grand father clause.

    They resolved that Atilade should be CAM’s leader and spokesman.

    It was also agreed that the following practitioners should be on CAM’s board: Atilade, Dr Olufemi Bankole, Dr Titi Oduye, Dr Peter Kachi, Dr Bade Adewale, Prof Osmond Onyeka, Prof Joseph Akpa, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya, Dr Celestine Dike, Dr Henry Nwachukwu and Dr Amadi Godspower. The group said Akpa should be registered by MDCN unconditionally.

    The ministerial committee to push CAM’s re-opening, the group said, shall comprise Atilade as Chairman, Oduye, secretary, Kachi, Bankole and Adewale, members.

    Atilade (Manipulative Medicine/Chiropractor); Bankole (Osteopath); Kachi (Homeopath); Oduye (Naturopath); Adewale (Acupuncurist) each representing the basic disciplines in CAM were selected to implement the resolution.