Resident doctors tackle Reps over five-year compulsory practice bill

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has kicked over the House of Representatives Bill mandating Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners to practise for five years before being granted full licence.

NARD, made its position known in a communique issued at the end of the emergency extended National Officers’ Committee (NOC) meeting of the association which was held virtually over the weekend.

According to the statement issued on Monday, the resident doctors expressed shock by the action of the sponsor of the bill, Honourable Ganiyu Johnson (APC/Lagos).

The doctors decried the non-payment of salaries of members by the Federal Government as the current administration gradually winds down.

The communique reads, “The extended NOC observed with shock and disappointment, the infuriating attempts by Honourable Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson and the House of Representatives to enslave Nigerian-trained medical doctors for five years post-graduation before they can be issued full practicing licences or allowed to travel abroad if they so wished.

“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).

It, however, 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.

The medical body 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.