The Medical and Dental Specialists Association in Basic Medical Sciences, MeDSABAMS, has called for the review of medical education and the curriculum in Nigeria to bring it up to par with current healthcare standards.
It noted that medical education in Nigeria was not ready for the 21st Century healthcare given the obsolete and old methods of its application, expressing worry in the gap between findings from basic medical research and their application in clinical practice.
The association stated this in a communique endorsed by its National president, Dr John Anionye, and the National Secretary General, Dr Tasiu Ibrahim at the end of its 5th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference themed, “Scaling Up Medical Education in Nigeria for the 21st Century Healthcare,” held Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
The House noted with dismay that the medical education at the pre-clinical level and instructions to medical students in basic medical science have been unduly taken over in many universities by non-medically qualified personnel, attributing such to “deliberate attempts to prevent the employment of Medically Qualified Personnel.”
The House called on stakeholders to urgently seek a review of the curriculum for medical education at all levels to reflect the realities of the times, stressing that Medically Qualified Professionals who are specialists in the Basic Medical and Basic Clinical Sciences should be consulted for the review.
It added, “It was the opinion of the House, that to scale up medical education in Nigeria for the 21st Century healthcare, there was a need to apply new methods to bridge the existing gap between findings from basic medical research and their application in clinical practice in Nigeria. There was also the need for healthy collaboration among professionals to bridge this gap.
While appreciating the efforts of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in protecting Basic Medical Education in Nigeria, the House charged it to continue to insist on the increase in the employment of Medically Qualified Lecturers into the Basic Medical and Basic Clinical Sciences in Nigerian Universities as well as separation of the School/Faculty meant to train Pre-clinical Medical Students from that meant for the training of BSc students of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
The House also called on University managements to as a matter of urgency ensure proper equipping of the laboratories of all the pre-clinical departments, as they are currently in very deplorable states in most Universities.
“The NUC and the MDCN are being called upon to beam their searchlights on this unfortunate deterioration in training facilities, as they are an essential part of Basic Medical Education.” It said.
The House while recognizing the steps taken so far by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA on advocating for better welfare for Doctors, in the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Federal Government, urged them to step up their game by ensuring “Universal Applicability” of CONMESS and its accompanying allowances, up to the age of 70 years for Medical Lecturers.
Meanwhile, the NMA conferred National Distinguished Award on past leaders who contributed immensely to development and growth of the association right from the foundational level to the present stage. The recipients of the prestigious award include: Prof. M.B.T Umar, (Posthumous award), as the founding President of the Association.
