OBSTETRICIANS and gynaecologists have been called upon to acquire new skills if they must function optimally. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, the Medical Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, noted that obstetricians and gynaecologists must be highly sensitive to the needs of patients and have significant critical thinking and problem-solving skills, "Being a very service-oriented aspect of medicine, obstetricians and gynaecologists must also possess inductive and deductive reasoning skills to properly analyse patient information, even if the patient does not provide the entire story," Ajayi said. 

The physician, who was also honoured at the dinner, noted that practitioners must be adept at deploying endoscopy, a powerful diagnostic tool, in the treatment and management of patients so as to make surgical procedures minimally invasive. 

He noted, "Keyhole approach is the trend the world over, and we must not be seen to lag behind in this area of medicine. 

The technique is not only as effective and safe as traditional techniques, it also reduces the risk of infection and allows 

for' faster recovery, with little or no scarification." Ajayi also advised SOGON members to be dedicated to providing the 

finest medical and health care services to patients through the use of robotic surgery. He argued that this technique makes for shorter hospitalisation, reduced pain' and discomfort, faster recovery time and smaller incisions, reduced 

blood loss, reduced risk of infection and minimal scarring. He said that surgeons who deploy robotic surgery would have greater visualisation , enhanceddexterity and greater precision. 

Ajayi, who advised physicians to pool resources together in order to achieve optimalgoal,said, "We need 20 per cent professional skills and 80 percent people skills if we must rid our nation of hospitals that are not viable." 

He, also advised newly graduating physicians not to rush into setting up their own hospitals. Rather, he said, young doctors should serve apprenticeship under experienced and mature professionals, from whom they can learn the rudiments of the profession. 

He advised older physicians to mentor the younger ones by steering them in the right direction. In his speech, the SOGON President, Dr. Fred Achem, said the relevance of strict professionalism could not be overemphasised in modern medicine. He urged members to make improved health care delivery paramount in their practice,