Olukayode Babalola
Lafia – Dr Omoha Solomon, the Resident Doctor, Agreaba Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State, has called on the federal and state governments to take drastic steps to halt activities of fake doctors across the country.
Solomon, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lafia on Wednesday, said relevant authorities should also collaborate with government to work against persons posing as doctors.
The medical practitioner said the call became imperative following increasing activities of unqualified and fake doctors, who were offering medical services to unsuspecting patients in the hinterlands.
“Due to the ignorance of some Nigerians, especially in the grassroots, the activities of these fake doctors continue to thrive, hence the call to the federal and state governments to take concerted efforts against them.
“Fake doctors often capitalise on the ignorance and poor financial situation of the sick at the grassroots by offering cheap services which they have little understanding of and complicating their health situation.
“The self-acclaimed doctors, who have no medical training, carry out all sorts of treatments on patients and when their conditions deteriorate, they then refer them to us.
Solomon however, urged relevant authorities to move fast in preventing more unsuspecting patients from falling prey to such doctors who “earn a living by worsening the situation of patients rather than helping them.’’
He also appealed for more concerted sensitisation campaigns against self-medication, which he described as a ‘ticking bomb’ among Nigerians.
“Most of the patients before they come to a certified hospital have already done all sorts of treatments at home, thereby complicating their situation.
“This is wrong and it is due to ignorance and I would want our authorities to take a serious look into how to discourage that behavior because stopping self-medication will save a lot of lives.’’
Solomon said these issues prompted Agreaba Hospital to commence offering support and some free services to poor patients who visit the hospital.
According to him, the hospital also assists by treating those who cannot afford to pay their medical expenses to encourage them form a habit of using standard hospitals for treatment.
He noted that the move was aimed at empathising with poor patients, as well as promoting the hospital’s initiative of prioritising human lives above all.
“Most patients keep complaining of financial difficulty and so we have to step up and help them wherever we can because what matters to us first is their well-being,” he said.
He also called on other private health institutions to assist the less privileged patients who could not afford to pay their bills, instead of allowing them to patronise fake doctors or self-medicate.
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