LAGOS – The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday urged the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Lagos to increase the production of specialists to reduce frequent medical tours of Nigerians abroad.
Dr Osahon Enabulele, NMA President, spoke at the investiture of Prof. Rasheed Arogundade as the 18th President of the College in Lagos.
Enabulele said that the college must move aggressively to produce more specialists.
According to him, the college has only produced 4,258 Fellows since its establishment 35 years ago.
The president explained that the situation showed that the country had only one specialist to 40,000 Nigerians, which was unacceptable by all standards.
“We need to move much more, and without compromising standards, to ensure that we have greater production to ensure that we have highly skilled specialists.
“The increase will also help reduce frequent tours abroad in the name of seeking specialists in other countries.
“The paucity of specialists could also be a factor that has very unfortunately driven these unbridled exits abroad in the name of foreign medical care,” he said.
Enabulele charged the college president to use his previous experiences in his new office, to meet the expectations of not only the medical profession, but also that of Nigerians.
The NMA president commended the college for the progress it had recorded despite limited resources.
Dr Abdulmumuni Ibrahim, Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) said that the council would go after Fellows of the college who had failed to register with the council.
Ibrahim said that only 1,500 out of about 5,000 Fellows produced by the college were registered with the council.
“We will be forced to fish out those that have not obtained their certificates of practise from us,’’ he said.
Ibrahim congratulated the new president and wished him success during his tenure.
Also speaking, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, encouraged the new president to embark on programmes that would add value to the college.
Ikuforiji, who was represented by Mr Alawiye King, Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, pledged to support the college at all times.
“We are extending the hands of fellowship to the college, call on us at any time and we will be ready to assist your college,’’ he said.
In his address, Arogundade said that the two-year tenure, though short, would make a difference in moving the college forward and in a positive direction.
Arogundade said that training matters and standards, the incomplete training syndrome, college development and policies would be given utmost attention. (NAN)
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