The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on Thursday inducted 55 newly qualified doctors at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo, into the profession.
Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, the Registrar of the council, who conducted the oath of hippocratic on the inductees, charged them to be familiar with the medical code of ethics of the profession to avoid infractions.
Sanusi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Victor Gbenro, said the council would not hesitate to sanction any practitioner found wanting in the discharge of the professional duty.
Earlier, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the inductees at the 18th oath taking and induction ceremony were made up of 36 females and 19 males.
Ezemonye, who was also represented by his deputy, Prof. Raphael Adeghe, said the Adesanya Class, as the set was called, was joining the list of over 3,000 medical doctors so far produced by the College of Health Sciences of the institution.
“Today’s gathering is significant in the context of present day Nigeria, as it occurs at the intersection of myriad challenges and opportunities that define medical education and healthcare in our nation.
“Universities offering training in medicine and surgery are increasing in number by the day. As of 2020, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) approved 39 universities to train medical students.
“Despite this number, the number of medical doctors in active medical practice has declined tremendously.
“A number of junior and even senior doctors are emigrating at their own expense to greener climes due to a myriad of problems with training at the postgraduate level in particular and medical practice in general.
“This is what is now euphemistically referred to as the “Japa syndrome” in our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.
The vice-chancellor also said amidst the challenges facing the health system in Nigeria, the university was proud to have contributed to the journey of equipping the new doctors with the knowledge, skills and values, paramount in the practice of medicine.
He urged the inductees to take up the responsibility of carrying the legacy forward, be the advocates of change, and the torchbearers of a brighter future for Nigeria healthcare system.
In his lecture at the occasion, Prof. Francis Faduyile, who bemoaned the rot in the health system, however, urged the inductees to stay in the country and improve on the situation.
He warned the new doctors against unethical behaviour, particularly offences related to drug and alcohol.
Faduyile also charged them to improve their skill and further their education home and abroad as well as involving in politics for development of policies favourable to the profession.
