Posted on: Thu 19-06-2025

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has responded strongly to a recent petition sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), describing it as emotional blackmail aimed at portraying doctors negatively.

In the petition, the ACPN alleged that medical doctors were increasingly dominating the health and education sectors, sidelining other health professionals. However, NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, dismissed these claims, stating that doctors had not encroached on the roles of other professions, either at the local or national level.

Dr. Osundara emphasized that rather than domination, doctors have been met with hostility and unfair criticism despite their critical contributions to healthcare delivery in Nigeria. He pointed out that doctors are not trying to take over pharmaceutical roles, such as heading pharmaceutical companies or leading drug research, which are clearly within the domain of pharmacists.

According to him, the real issue raised by the ACPN seemed to revolve around positions of leadership—“who heads what” and “who holds what”—rather than patient-centered concerns. He described the ACPN’s approach as unproductive and divisive, urging them to focus on collaboration that benefits patients, rather than rivalry that disrupts the healthcare system.

Dr. Osundara made it clear that NARD holds no animosity towards any group and does not seek to dominate discussions in the health sector. However, as a key stakeholder, NARD will continue to voice its perspectives on matters affecting patient care and the healthcare system at large.

He further raised concerns about the dangers posed by unqualified individuals using the title “doctor” and providing patient care, noting that such practices have led to many avoidable deaths. He also cited data showing that hospitals led by physician-leaders generally perform better than those led by non-physicians, reinforcing the importance of medically trained leadership in healthcare institutions.

In conclusion, Dr. Osundara urged all health professionals to put patients first and ensure that any discussion or reform in the sector should focus on improving health outcomes, not on professional rivalries or personal ambitions.

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