Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), today, inducted 416 foreign-trained medical and dental graduates (403 doctors and 13 dentists) into the Nigerian medical profession, with a charge to uphold the ethics of the medical and dental profession.
The inductees were graduates who passed the written examination and other clinical exercises organized by MDCN to test their capacity and knowledge of medicine.
MDCN Registrar, Dr. Tajudeeen Sanusi, administered the necessary oaths to the doctors at an induction ceremony held in Abuja, today, reports Daily Sun.
He informed the new doctors that the next step is posting to different healthcare facilities across the country for their one year mandatory housemanship which will, expectedly, afford them the opportunity to acquire more practical knowledge and experience required for smooth take off of their career.
He said: “Please note that there’s no housemanship space in Abuja. The available spaces are saturated with house officers who are yet to complete their one year exercise. As a result, majority of you would be sent to different locations across the country for the one year experience.
“However, the government is considering the request for increased opportunities as well as enrollment in medical schools, but on the condition that the standard will not be compromised.
“Nevertheless, bear in mind that during the one year sojourn, you are not expected to participate in any form of industrial action (strike) neither are you permitted to refer yourself as member of Association of Resident Doctor (ARD).
“In addition to that, truancy, resignation, insubordination, and other unethical practices would not be accepted. This is because government is making huge financial investments in you on the platform of housemanship.”
He reminded the new doctors of the existence of MDCN disciplinary panel that has equal jurisdiction as Federal High Court, hence he asked them to abide by rules of engagement to avoid professional misconduct that could attract unfriendly sanctions from the Council.
Meanwhile, the President of Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Temitope Adeyemi, congratulated the new doctors for the successful completion of the academic and non-academic programme that earn them the license for medical practice in Nigeria.
He was optimistic that the new additions into dentistry practice in Nigeria will help to improve oral care services in Nigeria, thus charging the new doctors to dedicate themselves to continuous learning and service to Nigerians.
He said: “Undoubtedly, we have manpower challenge in Nigeria. Currently, we have a ration of one Dentist to 55,000 people as against one Dentist to 7,500 people as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).”
He, however, advised the new doctors to submit themselves to the tutelage of their superiors, know their limitations, consult and make referrals when necessary.
