The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has spoken out against a House of Representatives bill that would require Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners to practise for five years before receiving a full licence.
NARD stated its position in a communique issued at the conclusion of the association’s emergency extended National Officers’ Committee (NOC) meeting, which lasted nearly the entire weekend.
According to the statement obtained on Monday by Channels Television, the resident doctors expressed shock by the action of the sponsor of the bill, Honourable Ganiyu Johnson (APC/Lagos).
The doctors also decried the non-payment of salaries of members by the Federal Government as the current administration gradually winds down.
“The extended NOC observed with shock and disappointment, the infuriating attempts by Honourable Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson and the Federal House of Representatives to enslave Nigerian-Trained Medical Doctors for five years post-graduation before they can be issued full practicing licenses or allowed to travel abroad if they so wished,” the communique read.
“The extended NOC decried the inability of the Federal Government to review the CONMESS salary structure despite several promises, even with the imminent change in Government.”
NARD also registered its worry over the downgrading of the membership certificate of the West African Postgraduate Colleges by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
On a positive note, it commended the Ekiti and Bayelsa State Governments for the adoption and implementation of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) as well as the payment of the reviewed hazard allowance by the Ekiti State Government.
It pledged to summon an extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting in the next two weeks to review the issues raised and determine the next line of action.