Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Public Notice on Private Practice By Medical and Dental Practitiners in Full Employment of The Pubic Services

Posted on: Wed 14-10-2015

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) hereby draws the attention of the Medical and Dental Practioners Their employers, Stake holders and the General public to its publication in the Above Subject in the Guardian and Daily Trust Newspapers of 10the Novermber 2014 and reminds all, of the following infromation as contained in the said publication:

The Council notes with concern the trend among practitioners where by persons in full time employment of the public services engage in full-fledged private practive. This practice puts members of the public who have to access care in either public or private health instituttions in which such practitioners are involved at grave risk and as is inimical to the image and reputation of the professions

Registered Medical and dental practitioners and members of the public are here by called to note that the MDCN has made Rules on the conduct of medical and Dental Practitioners in Full Employment in the Public service. These are contained in Rule 49 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 edition and Reproduction here Under.

Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 Rule 49

"49.1: Medical and Dental Practitioners who are in full time employment in the public service in Nigeria are free to employ theri spare and unofficial hours to engage in medical or dental practice for remuneration as follows:

a. A registered practitioner in full time employment in the Public Services shall not engage himself in extra-mural private during official duty time under and circumstances

b. A registered practitioner who holds the appointment of Consultant status or a medical or dental Officer of more than Ten year Post-registration experience may run one private Consulting clinic which will open for business only during periods when he is not on official duty

c. A Consultant or registered Pratitioner of similar status in (b) above shall offer in Hospital care to his private patients only within the public Hospital he is in full employment it is unethical for a registered practitioner in full employment in the public service to give inhospital care, that is investigatory, admission and institutional care to patients outside the hospital in which he is in Fulltime employment.

d. A registered practitioner of more than ten years post-registration who is in full time employment in the public services but is not enageged in clinical responsibilities in the public hospital may engage outside the official duty hours, in clinical practice in an institution owned and run by full time private practitioners or hold consultations only in his consulting clinic.

e. it is unethical for a registered practitioner engaged in a public Health institution to demand and/or receive money from hospital patients under any guise whatsoever, either before or inthe course of attending such patients."

49.2: Private Practice by Non-Consultant Registered Practitioners who are in Full Time Employments in The Public Service.

A Medical or dental practitioner who does not have the status of a Consultant may engage in Private practice outside his official hours in an institution owned and managed by a full time private practitioner. it is unethical for a registered practitioner who is not a consultant or less than ten years Post-registration and who is in the public service to own and run any private medical or dental facility.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria hereby directs registered practitiner who are Chief Medical directors, Medical Directors or Medical Superintendent in Charge of Public helath Institute to Provide Facilities, programmes and systems in hospitals they administer, to enable practioners engage in intra-rural private practices.

it is hoped that this measures will significantly curb the penchant for extra rural private practice by Practitioner during official hours.

Registered practitioner in administrative control of public health institutions should be awake to their responsibilities under Rule 50 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008. For ease of reference reproduced hereunder:

"Ethical Control by Practitioners in Managemnt Appiontementt in Public Hospitals

Registered practitioners who are Chief Medical Directors, medical Directiors, Medical Superintendents or Medical/Dental Officers in adminstrative charge of public services health institutions have inherent responsibilities to ensure strict compliance with Public Service Regulations by Professional colleageues and other who are in the employment of th public service and are deployed to the institutions which they administer. A Practitioner in adminstrative control who fails to report collegues who violate this regulation to the Council shall him/herself be liable for disciplinary process"

Signed

Dr. A.A. Ibrahim mni

Registrar

ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED