Nigerian Doctors Kick Against Migration Restriction Of Medical Professionals

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, (MDCAN) has asked the National Assembly to completely thrown out the bill seeking to compel newly trained doctors to work for five years in the country before being granted permission for further practice in other country.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that bill Hon. Abiodun Ganiyu Johnson has in a bill proposed that fresh medical graduates should be mandated to provide professional services to Nigeria for five years before receiving a full registration and license to practice.

Responding to the proposal the President of MDCAN, Dr. Victor Makanjuola and General Secretary, Dr. Yemi Raji, in a statement signed by both of them said that the bill is now more worrisome that the bill has passed through the second reading.

The doctors said the bill violates the constitution of Nigeria, as Section 34 (1) b states that, “no person shall be held in slavery or servitude” while section 34 (1) (c) states that, “no one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

The statement added: “We received with a rude shock the news of a bill purporting to make it mandatory for fresh medical graduates to provide services to Nigeria for up to five years before receiving a full registration and license to practice.
“This proposal is such that they would not be able to leave the country until after five years post qualification. It is even more worrisome that the bill has passed through the second reading.”

It argued that successful approval of the bill into law will increase unemployed and disenchanted Nigerians rather than providing solution to the problem of exodus of medical professionals.

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“While we look forward to the public hearing to clarify our views on the floor of the Parliament, it is our hope that the points enunciated above will get the proponents of this bill to strongly consider its withdrawal to save cost on further legislative processes on the bill.

“We hereby convey our total rejection of the Bill and pray that it should be thrown out completely.”

MADCAN however urges the National Assembly to focus on laws and policies that will promote the production of good health care which will willingly make the medical professionals stay in the country.

“Laws and policies that enhance the rate of production of good quality health care manpower while promoting the desire and willingness of health care workforce to stay back in the country should be the core focus of the National Assembly at this time.

“As the National Assembly remains the bastion of our democracy, laws that will make light of the most draconian military dictatorship should not emanate from our Hallowed Chambers,” it said.