A Nigerian Socio-Political commentary

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About 3 or 4 years ago, the British Royal college of Physicians was involved in a peer review process with one of her Nigerian counterparts, the West Africa College of Physicians. The objective was to assess areas of collaboration in medical education, evaluation and practice. The intent was also to evolve a new paradigm and approach to the training of doctors generally, bringing things to par with international best practices. The success of that mission would have meant that physicians trained and accredited here as specialists could simply pack their belongings and move to the United kingdom, Australia, Singapore or Ireland for practice and vice versa. It would have meant our qualifications are unquestioned and at par with other ones out there. It would have facilitated practice across borders, greater international recognition and acceptance, a fluidity of processes and perhaps a restoration of confidence in a sector since relegated to the fringes. It would have been an elixi...

That Nigeria's healthcare industry needs a breath of fresh air is no longer in doubt. The perennial strikes occasioned by inter and intra professional squabbles, remuneration related matters, poor, inefficient services and the sheer redundancies in this sector reflect this. These are also symptomatic of a larger problem bedeviling the sector, that of a paradigm shift. The organizational, conceptual and legislative framework of healthcare currently is not well thought through, beginning from the philosophy through to the operational and tactical levels. What are the issues? 1. The lack of a legislative framework for healthcare and practice. Nigeria currently has no legislative framework for its health sector. The sector's policy direction is superfluous, incoherent, and lacks the bite for effectiveness without this backbone. The National health bill as submitted at NASS may not address the many ills it is meant to cure. It continues to languish unattended, partly because of t...

Have you noticed, American doctor's append only MD as their titles? Indeed, to practice in the United States require that a doctor specialize in at least one of the many areas of medicine after the basic qualification. Therefore, as a specialist, the only insignia is the MD, though a description as a fellow may follow to show the specialty. Other appendages may include PhD, MPH and a few others. The reason is simple. A medical doctor (MD) is a medical doctor. The difference lies in the area of practice and expertise- psychiatry, surgery, Obstetrics and gynecology etc. To become a specialist therefore is a right, a necessity expected of every doctor. It is because of this that a national matching system for residential program exists in the USA. It is also because of this that a system of knowledge acquisition and career progression through postgraduate years one through five exist, specific milestones. It is equally because of this that the emphasis is on the quality an...

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Nigeria is a house of cards and everyone is playing the ostrich. We are a nation of people who love to talk. We love talk about the problems, issues, and even solutions. But we are also a people steeped in self deception and grand standing. We love not to act. We refuse to change or do the needful. We sacrifice the expedient on a platter of the convenient, and pecuniary. Or are we simply living in denial and self delusion of the enormity of our challenges? The Constitution Nigeria's constitution is seriously flawed and fraudulent. A document foisted on the people for the pleasure of a few, and meant to foster maximum and perpetuity of control. It is a document which rejects self determination, self empowerment and entrepreneurial excellence. It usurps the power of the people to subdue and fill the earth. It strips the citizens of access and use of the God given  resources in her domains. It is an instrument of rape and plunder. It is in light of this that fundamental and fa...

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/blog/moffic/content/article/10168/2106458