TheCable

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says it will strongly resist plans to enslave doctors in the country.

The association was reacting to a proposed bill which seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004 to address the brain drain in the health sector.

Sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos, the bill mandates Nigerian-trained medical and dental professionals to practise for five years before getting full licence.

The association, in a communique after a meeting of its national officers committee (NOC), said it agrees with the lawmaker about the dangers of brain drain in the health sector, but described the bill as “obnoxious” and “modern-day slavery”.

The residents doctors, therefore, called on the house of representatives to dismiss the bill immediately.

“The extended NOC observed with shock and disappointment the infuriating attempts by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson and the house of representatives to enslave Nigerian-trained medical doctors for five years post-graduation before they can be issued full practicing licenses or allowed to travel abroad if they so wished,” the communique reads.

“The extended NOC admonishes the house of representatives that the obnoxious bill as sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson is a clear definition of modern-day slavery and not in keeping with anything civil, and so should be thrown away at this point.

“The house, however, agreed with him on the palpable dangers of the current menace of brain drain in the health sector and promised to work with the government to reverse the trend when the government is ready to come up with genuine solutions to the problem.

“The extended NOC reiterates that any attempt by the government or any of its agencies to enslave Nigerian medical doctors under any guise would be strongly and vehemently resisted by the association.”