The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed, mni, MFR, has called for more collaboration amongst all health workers in Nigeria, including the practitioners in the diaspora in the overall interest of the country.

 

Welcoming the Association of Nigerian Physicians and Pharmacists in the Americas (ANPA) and Association of Nigerians across Great Britain (MANSAG) in his office last week Tuesday, he said that for the country to maximise the optimum benefits of health services available in Nigeria, there must be a synergy amongst all health practitioners in a manner devoid of internal bickering and the mentality of some group feeling superior to others.

 

Professor Rasheed said that the Commission was worried over the unhealthy relationship amongst the various health professionals in the country at the expense of the patient who is at the centre. This, he said, puts the health of the country at risk of danger and advised that health workers should see themselves as partners in progress rather than foes. He told the delegation that the Commission had resolved one of the major contentious issue in the postgraduate medical training (PhD and Fellowship) during a meeting with the Association of Provosts of Colleges of Medicines (APCOM), Nigeria Medical and Dental Council, Nigeria Medical Association and other health stakeholders across the country, to the extent that the PhD is not to be seen as alternative to the Fellowship but a complement.

 

 

The Executive Secretary explained that NUC, with the regulators in the Medical field reached a consenus that the pursuit of PhD for medical students should be made optional, but however, a prerequisite for all resident doctors who intend to pursue a career in lecturing in the medical programme. The Commission and the relevant bodies also decided that the M. Sc and PhD programmes would be built, seamlessly, around parts 1 and 11 of the fellowship.

 

In addition, any student who decided to obtain both the M.sc and PhD without the Fellowship, would be allowed to do so, but he/she can neither become a consultant nor be in any of the Medical Colleges. Professor Rasheed observed that medicine as a discipline is too important to be left in the hands of an individual as it bothers on the health and well-being of the country. He said although medicine was one of the programmes in the Nigeria University System that the Commission is satisfied with its quality to a large extent, but gave the assurance that NUC was prepared to approve or licence more universities of Medical Science as long as they satisfy the requirements. He said at present, there is only one university of medical science in the entire country (the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences) established by the immediate past Governor of the state.

 

The Executive Secretary said that the Commission is trying to adapt the American medical system where a student is expected to get a first degree in the basic sciences before enrolling in medicine so as to strengthen the programme. He assured the group that the Commission was ready to partner with any responsible organisation or group for the advancement of the NUS. He, therefore, encouraged them to resubmit their proposals, observations and suggestions on the Curriculum taking cognisant of the existing curriculum as the foundation, to enable the Commission study it and see what areas could be adapted. He added that NUC is the only regulatory agency responsible in university education for ensuring the quality of academic programmes in the country while professional bodies regulate the practice.

 

Earlier, in his remarks, the President of ANPPA, Johnson Adeyanju said that the Association was founded over 22 years ago, through the efforts of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas with brilliant ideas, to create a purposeful vision of promoting a healthier Nigeria in a healthier world. He said that shortly after its inception, the Association assisted in connecting the Nigerian universities to the Internet, and over the years, have continued to support many healthcare and philanthropic projects in the country, through collaborations with other healthcare stakeholders and leaders of the Nigerian health systems, both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Dr. Adeyanju informed the Executive Secretary that as part of its efforts in assisting the country, the Association has submitted a draft curriculum review for medical programme as a proposal to the Federal Ministry of Health with the main emphasis being Ethics of care and patient safety. He said that because patient is in the centre of care, there was the need to imbibe in the students the proper ethics of care and safety of the patients. This, he said, would ensure that patients are made the priority of medical practitioners.

 

The President stated that the draft curriculum contained some courses that if adopted, would add immense value to the students. To ensure that medical practitioners in the Americas kept abreast of developments in the profession, he explained that every 10 years, all medical practitioners were expected to re-write what is called "Programme Standardization Medical Examination".

 

ANPPA, Dr. Adeyanju said, currently has 18 chapters with a well-structured system, adding that its mission was to identify and stimulate interest in all matters affecting the health of Nigerians and provide the forum for debating evolving health issues in search for solution. This, according to him, is to encourage the development of practical solutions to Nigerian health care problems through strategic initiative and field activities inside Nigeria and to seek collaborative research opportunities in the international medical community. Others were tocontribute to improved health care in Nigeria, the Americas and worldwide as well as to foster personal and professional growth of its members through continuing education opportunities.

 

The Association, as part of its ANPPA week, had conducted over 80 surgeries and attended to over 400 patients in the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital. At the meeting were the Deputy Executive Secretary II, Mr. Ibrahim Dan'Iya; Directors of Management Support Services, Barr. Victor Onuoha and Protocol and Special Duties, Mr. Chris Maiyaki. In the ANPPA delegation were the President elect, Dr. Charmaine Emelife; Chair, Medical Mission, Dr. Cliff Eke; Representative of Pharmacists/NAPPSA, Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds; Chair, Advocacy Committee, Dr. Abraham Osinbowale; Chair-elect, Houston, Dr. Barbara N. Onyia; Chair, Board of Directors and Dr. Babajide Bamigboye.