45% Medical Professionals Renewed Licenses To Practice In 2023

OF 130,000 registered physicians in the nation, only 58,000 (or 45%) renewed their annual practice licenses in 2023, according to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

This was revealed on Friday during the induction and oath-taking ceremony for the Edo State University class B medical and surgical graduates of 2022–2023, by Victor Kolawole, MDCN deputy registrar.

“We presently have over 130,000 registered doctors in Nigeria,” NAN quoted Kolawole as saying.

“However, as you know, because of the increase in migration of doctors out of the country, we have about 58,000 doctors who renewed their annual practice licence in 2023 and they are those that are fit to practice in Nigeria.”

He was against doctors leaving the country in search of better opportunities and urged recent medical graduates to remain in the country and continue practicing medicine.

He said: By this induction of 20 new doctors into the health workforce, we hope that other institutions will follow suit even as the government said that the quota should be increased in all our training centres.

“However, the doctors must meet the requirements to earn those increase in quota.

“We will partner them to ensure that they meet those requirements and as we try to ensure that, standard must be upheld.”

Emmanuel Aluyor, the vice-chancellor of the university, expressed gratitude to Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo, in his welcoming speech for his consistent support of the university and for creating the university teaching hospital by converting Auchi's Central Hospital.

“This significant upgrade has enhanced facilities for the training of medical students and uplifted the standard of healthcare services in Edo north and its environs,” he said.

“It is noteworthy that Edo State University Teaching Hospital Auchi is the first state-owned teaching hospital in Edo.

“I respectfully urge the state government to sustain efforts toward improving facilities at the hospital.”