Posted on: Wed 30-06-2021

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State branch, has inaugurated Doctor’s Intelligent Digital Identity Card Management Service to check activities of medical quacks within the state.

The NMA, yesterday, released over 1,000 of the cards to be distributed to its members in the state free of charge. It also launched its Enterprise, Global Doctor’s e-Registry and Intelligent Transactional Doctor’s Platform.

Speaking at the unveiling in Enugu, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, explained that the intelligent system put in place by NMA would eliminate activities of quacks in the medical profession.

Obi said that the elimination of quacks would guarantee quality medical services to the people.

“Professionally, the innovative initiatives being launched today will go a long way to ensure that only qualified medical personnel serve our people. It is obvious that qualitative healthcare delivery comes from qualified medical professionals,” he said.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, said the digital system marked a milestone in the upgrade of medical services in the state and country at large.

Onodugo said his hospital would key into the platform to sanitise the industry.

“The present NMA executive in Enugu State has done well in restoring peace, coming out with impactful technological innovation and promoting the overall welfare of its members,” he said.

Also speaking, the Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Monday Igwe, applauded the NMA for using technology and evidence-based approaches to sort out the challenges of the association.

“We laud the present NMA executive in the state for such an innovation meant to cleanse the system,” said Igwe, who was represented by the Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Vincent Ubochi.

Earlier, the Chairman of NMA, Enugu Branch, Dr. Jude Onyia, shad aid that the smart identity card and other digital platforms would eliminate quacks in the medical profession in the state.

Onyia noted that the issue of quackery had persisted for years in the profession, adding that the end of quacks’ manipulation in the system had come.

“The activities of quacks have led to many deaths and low healthcare delivery, especially in the hinterland and remote areas of the state. With the intelligent identity card and the assistance of security agencies, we will rid the state of quack doctors,” he said.

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