Urgent Call for Reconstitution of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria
The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a critical appeal to the Federal Government, urging immediate action to reconstitute the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). This call comes in response to a series of events that have highlighted the urgent need for the council to be fully operational.
In a statement released on Wednesday, signed by NMA Lagos State chairman Saheed Kehinde, the association emphasized the pressing nature of this request. The call is particularly relevant following the tragic death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, the son of renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The incident has triggered a medical negligence investigation, which has led to the suspension of practitioners from two hospitals involved: Euracare MultiSpecialist Hospital and Atlantis Pediatric Hospital.
The investigation panel, which was formed to look into allegations of medical negligence, has been criticized for its approach. According to Kehinde, the panel’s actions have raised concerns about fairness and due process. He pointed out that the panel’s recommendations, which were released after the infant’s death, have brought to light the necessity for the MDCN to be properly constituted.
“The NMA Lagos State believes that MDCN remains the primary regulatory body for Nigerians to seek justice on medical negligence. However, the recent recommendations of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel on the death of 21 months old, Late Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of Mrs Chimamanda Adichie-Esege has brought out the urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately constitute the membership of the MDCN that will constitute the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal for justice not to be delayed on both sides,” the statement read.
Kehinde also expressed concerns over the investigative panel’s methodology, arguing that it has been more punitive than investigative. He criticized the way the report was disseminated through the media, including social media, as being unacceptable and violating principles of fair hearing.
He further stated that the reconstitution of the MDCN would help prevent ongoing disciplinary actions against medical and dental practitioners, which have caused significant mental stress. “The inauguration of a broader council will also prevent continuous and endless disciplinary actions meted out on medical and dental practitioners and the consequent mental stress, who have been waiting for the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal for the final decisions on the cases.”
President Bola Tinubu appointed Prof Afolabi Lesi as the new Board Chairperson of the MDCN in 2024, but since then, Lesi has remained the sole member of the council. This lack of representation has raised questions about the effectiveness of the current structure.
“In the current situation, the chairman of the council has been appointed by the FG for a long time, while the other members of the council are yet to be appointed – what is then the value of such an appointment?” Kehinde questioned.
He added that the failure to appoint the remaining members of the council, along with the boards of federal health institutions, has exposed systemic failures within the Federal Ministry of Health. “This trend is dangerous, unacceptable and disappointing,” he concluded.