Posted on: Mon 31-10-2022

Only 178 of the 647 foreign-trained medical and dental graduates passed the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) assessment examination held at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State in June this year, while 496 failed the examination.

Out of the number, 172 were medical graduates, while the remaining six were dental graduates passed, giving a total of 178 successful candidates.

Chairman of MDCN, Prof. Abba Waziri Hassan, who disclosed this at the induction ceremony for the 178 successful foreign trained graduates yesterday in Abuja, said that Regional experience about the African students studying overseas particularly in Eastern Block has shown great deficiency in their training.

Hassan noted that while MDCN recorded 27.5 per cent pass at the June 2022 assessment examination, Ghana recorded 20 per cent and South Africa recorded 27 per cent in similar examinations, adding that this trend has again brought to mind the need for wards attending Medical and Dental Schools in the Eastern Block and some other countries where experiences have shown poor or substandard medical education to attend a remediation programme to bring their knowledge at par with the standard of medical education available anywhere in Nigeria.

He stressed the need for those sponsoring candidates abroad to seek guidance from the MDCN and National Universities Commission (NUC) as to which Medical School abroad are considered of satisfactory standard.

The Chairman explained that the main essence of the assessment examination was to assess the quality of Candidates trained outside the country, adding that it will not only improve their knowledge so that they can be successful in the examination but will equally improve their skills and make them become more confident to practice the profession without the fear of putting the lives of members of their families and that of the larger society at a risk or in jeopardy.

He said: “We appreciate that as long as there are inadequate vacancies to absorb qualified candidates in our Medical and Dental Colleges, some have to go abroad for Medical and Dental training. This is why MDCN continue to encourage Federal and State governments and philanthropists to invest more on establishment of medical schools. However, while efforts are being made by MDCN and the NUC to increase the carrying capacities of the existing Medical Schools and encouraging the opening of new ones, parents and guardians and State governments should be cautious as to which countries to send wards for Medical and Dental training.”

Hassan urged the inductees to shelve malpractice by not attending to cases that they are not capable to handle and seek guidance from their seniors at the right time.

“You should develop good understanding with your colleagues, seniors and other health professionals that you will work with in the overall interest of your patients. The oath you are going to take should be the watchword of your practice for life. The centralized internship administration by the MDCN has come to stay and I humbly urge the Federal Ministry of Health to continue to do all that is necessary for it to be sustained.”

He appealed appeal to all State Governments to consider the upgrade of at least three Hospitals in their respective state to standards suitable for Housemanship training adding that this will create adequate spaces for Housemanship training every year.

The Chairman implored all Housemanship training centers not to reject House Officers who have chosen their centers for their one-year raining.

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