Dr. Bapigaan Audu, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Plateau State, has raised serious concerns about the prevalence of quackery in the medical profession across Nigeria. Speaking at the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference organized by the NMA Plateau State chapter in Jos on Wednesday, Dr. Audu called for concerted efforts from the government at all levels to combat this menace.
“Quackery in medicine is a source of worry to registered practitioners because they play on the gullibility of the public,” Dr. Audu stated. He emphasized the importance of the AGM’s theme, “Patient Advocacy and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Combating the Menace of Medical Quackery,” as a means to raise public awareness about the damaging effects of medical quackery.
Dr. Audu urged the Plateau State Government and relevant security and regulatory agencies to take necessary actions. “The searchlight must be beamed further than the urban areas into the rural areas where these quacks are having a field day largely due to the absence of standard medical facilities and the requisite, trained human resources for health to man these centers where they are available,” he said.
The NMA in Plateau State has already collaborated with security agencies to eliminate quacks from the healthcare sector. Dr. Audu stressed the need for the government to recognize health as a fundamental right for every Nigerian and ensure that no one is denied necessary health services due to poverty or other health disparities. He also highlighted the importance of prioritizing healthcare financing.
During the event, Hon. Ishaya Lalu, the lawmaker representing Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency and chairman of the occasion, decried the brain drain syndrome in the health sector, noting its negative impact on the country. He appealed to doctors to honor their oath to save lives and show more commitment to their duties.
Prof. Nuhu Dakum, who delivered the keynote address titled “Patient Advocacy and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Combating the Menace of Quackery,” lamented the lack of access to quality healthcare in some communities. He stressed that if all citizens had access to quality healthcare irrespective of their status, quackery would be eliminated. Prof. Dakum also highlighted the importance of health education, urging citizens to seek treatment from recognized government hospitals.
He called on regulatory agencies like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCON), Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and other monitoring teams to intensify efforts in identifying and flushing out quack doctors to prevent further harm to citizens.
