The House of Representatives’ Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which aims to make it mandatory for graduates in medical and dental fields to work in Nigeria for five years before being granted a full licence has passed for second reading.
The bill was sponsored by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, a member representing Oshodi Isolo II Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and was read on the floor of the House recently.
The bill was titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap. M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to mandate any Nigeria-trained Medical or Dental Practitioner to Practise in Nigeria for a Minimum of Five (5) before being granted a full licence by the Council in order to make Quality Health Services available to Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.2130).”
While leading the debate on the bill, Johnson stated that the amendment was “in order to make quality health services available to Nigerians considering the growing trend of the Nigeria population and the current emigration rate of the Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners abroad.”
He said: “Nigeria currently has only 24,000 licensed medical doctors available in the country, less than 10 per cent of the number needed to meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation.
“I now thought to myself and said, let us look at what is happening. I now noticed that the vacuum is that immediately after housemanship, we notice that most doctors, because of greener pastures there is a capital flight from Nigeria abroad to UK, America and all that. The Government has invested so much money in training these medical doctors.
“To give back to society after training you we are not saying you cannot go abroad to make money. If the government subsidised your tuition, the least we expect is that after your housemanship, before you are given full licence, at least you can give back to society within the period of five years. So after five years, you are free to go, at least you have given back to society.”
Majority of lawmakers backed the bill, though some demanded flexibility and options in the proposed law.
Meanwhile, a member of the House, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta opposed the bill on the grounds that it would amount to enslavement to tie a doctor down for five years in Nigeria post-graduation before looking for employment overseas.
Despite his opposition, the bill was passed by the majority voice vote for a second reading.
SUPPORT NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWSPAPER CANADA
If you like our work and want to keep enjoying what we offer, kindly support us by donating to the Nigerian Canadian News through the button below
Share your thoughts in the comments section below
Do you want to share any news or information with us? If yes, contact the publisher at publisher@test1.nascitest.club
