The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, has warned that online medical schools are not recognized in Nigeria. The Council gave the warning following the growing clamour for online medical schools in the country.
Kicking against the trend, MDCN insisted that the practice of medicine requires in-person clinical training, laboratory work, and bedside teaching. All of these, it said, are mandatory components of medical education.
The Council added that final examinations for medical qualifications must include hands-on clinical assessments. This, it said, cannot be conducted virtually.
The MDCN restated its commitment to upholding the highest standards in medical and dental education and practice in the country.
The Council also declared all foreign-trained medical and dental practitioners who have successfully passed the Foreign Trained Medical and Dental Graduates (FTMDG) Assessment Examination and received full registration are now being recognized as fully registered professionals. They are now authorized to practice in Nigeria.
The Council made this disclosure in separate statements on its website on Tuesday night on the heels of the speculation that practitioners were deemed to have met all statutory educational requirements. This is as outlined in the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act CAP M8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
These include earning the MBBS degree (or its equivalent). Completing the required horsemanship, and obtaining the necessary certificate of experience.
It stressed that fully registered medical and dental practitioners who meet statutory requirements, including the MBBS degree, horsemanship, and certificate of experience, must also fulfill annual registration obligations.
The Council, however, stressed the importance of renewing their Annual Practicing Certificate.
It also emphasized that the medical professionals must renew their Annual Practicing Certificate to maintain their licensure.
MDCN, therefore, reinstated its commitment to ensuring high standards in the medical field extends beyond the registration process. It added that it has been active in navigating the challenges posed by recent global disruptions. Particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.
According to the Council, the conflicts have significantly impacted on the education of many aspiring medical and dental practitioners.
To help in solving these challenges, the Council stated that it introduced several remediation pathways. These, it said, aimed at alleviating the difficulties faced by students whose studies were disrupted.
source: The Nation
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