Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has responded to allegations of
‘physician dominance’ in the country’s health and education sectors.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ACPN had criticised the “institutionalized marginalisation” of non-physician healthcare professionals, accusing doctors of monopolizing leadership positions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NARD dismissed the allegations as inflammatory and misleading.
The association stressed that doctors do not harbor hostility towards pharmacists and asserted their right to contribute to discussions on healthcare policy as essential stakeholders in the sector.
NARD criticised ACPN’s use of phrases such as “culture of fascism,” stating that such language unjustly accuses the government of oppressive behavior within the health system and should be retracted.
The group also condemned the reference to doctors as an “over-pampered group of civil servants,” describing it as offensive and uncalled for.
The statement reads, “To also use the word ‘culture of fascism’ as seen in the publication is to indict the government for the cruel use of power within the healthcare system. A statement we think should be withdrawn.”
“The use of the statement ‘incomprehensible dominance of an over-pampered group of civil servants’ is abhorrent and loathsome to whichever group of civil servants they referred to.”
“Most definitely not Nigerian Doctors else that will mean ACPN will be needing medication to whatever that is causing them chasm of pain which we will readily provide.”
“There has been no incursion into other profession within the health care system by the body of Doctors at local or national level.”
“What we have rather seen is revolt, repulsive utterances, statement of attack to Nigerian Doctors positive contributions to health care needs of Nigerians.”
NARD emphasized that doctors have not encroached upon the roles of other professionals within the healthcare system, either locally or nationally. Rather, they believe there has been growing hostility and verbal attacks directed at medical doctors, despite their positive contributions to national health outcomes.
The group also questioned why pharmacists are pushing to head hospitals, arguing that their qualifications are not significantly different from those of health information managers, who rarely seek such leadership roles.
NARD urged the pharmacists’ association to focus on public health concerns such as the misuse of prescription drugs and the alarming state of mental health among Nigerian youth.
The statement added, “ Doctors do not work as heads in pharmaceutical companies. Rather, the concern of ACPN is on who heads what and who holds what,” the statement reads.”
“It is expected that ACPN will be more intentional in addressing how people access
Prescription only drugs.”
“Mental Health state of recent especially among the youth in Nigeria is frightening. A call to ACPN to get to work than propagating blackmail.”
“Once again we appeal that ACPN should stop appealing to emotional rhetoric or blackmail of Nigerian qualified doctors in an attempt to make the public see them as Anti-Other health professionals.”
