Janet Ogundepo
The Guild of Medical Directors has called for a balanced, fair, and humane approach to the regulation of medical practice, stating that disciplinary actions must protect patients while also safeguarding the sustainability of the nation’s healthcare system.
The guild noted that suspension should be considered after culpability has been established, noting that the sudden interruption of a doctor’s career without ascertaining guilt may result in profound psychological distress, reputational damage, and social stigma.
In a statement signed by the GMD President, Dr Raymond Kuti, the guild expressed deep concern regarding the recent suspension of certain medical practitioners by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel, a panel under the regulatory purview of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
PUNCH Healthwise reported that the MDCN suspended the three senior doctors over alleged medical negligence linked to the death of Nkanu Esege, the 21-month-old son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie.
The GMD president stated that in exercising this responsibility, it is important that disciplinary processes are implemented with careful consideration of their wider implications for healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country faces significant pressures on its healthcare workforce.
“The Guild of Medical Directors wishes to express deep concern regarding the recent suspension of certain medical practitioners by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel, a panel under the regulatory purview of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. The Guild recognises and respects the Panel and the Council’s statutory responsibility to regulate medical practice and uphold professional standards.
“However, in exercising this responsibility, it is important that disciplinary processes are implemented with careful consideration of their wider implications for healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country faces significant pressures on its healthcare workforce,” he said.
Kuti noted that Nigeria’s private healthcare sector plays a critical role in providing medical services across the country, adding that many private medical facilities operate with limited numbers of specialists and experienced physicians who provide essential care.
The GMD president added, “When a practitioner is suspended, entire clinical units may become unable to function effectively. This can lead to disruption of services, delays in treatment, and, in some cases, the temporary closure of facilities that serve thousands of patients. Ultimately, these disruptions affect the public’s access to timely healthcare.”
He noted that the suspension of medical practitioners also has broader economic consequences, stressing that with Nigeria already facing a shortage of qualified doctors relative to its population, the removal of practitioners from active service places additional pressure on healthcare providers.
“The suspension of medical practitioners also has broader economic consequences. With Nigeria already facing a shortage of qualified doctors relative to its population, the removal of practitioners from active service places additional pressure on healthcare providers,” Kuti said.
He added that hospitals are often forced to urgently recruit replacements, redistribute workloads, or refer patients elsewhere, adding that these adjustments inevitably increase operational costs, which may ultimately be transferred to patients who are already struggling with the rising cost of healthcare.
The guild president stated, “When the healthcare workforce shrinks, the system absorbs the shock, and patients often bear the cost.”
Kuti noted that Nigeria is currently grappling with the migration of thousands of doctors to other countries in search of better working conditions and professional opportunities, stressing that in this context, actions that further reduce the number of practising physicians must be approached with caution.
The GMD president said, “While regulatory oversight is essential, disciplinary measures must also consider the broader realities facing Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.”
On the human cost of suspensions, Kuti stated that medical practice is built on years of rigorous training, immense personal sacrifice, and an enduring commitment to saving lives, adding that when a medical practitioner is suspended, the consequences extend far beyond professional discipline.
He stated, “Therefore, suspension should be considered after culpability has been established. The sudden interruption of a doctor’s career without ascertaining guilt may result in profound psychological distress, reputational damage, and social stigma. In many cases, these effects ripple outward to affect families, professional colleagues, and patients who depend on that doctor’s care. Disciplinary measures must therefore acknowledge the human dimension of medical practice.”
Kuti emphasised, “Doctors are not just professionals within a system; they are individuals whose lives and livelihoods are deeply tied to the work of caring for others.”
The GMD president stressed that disciplinary systems should prioritise fairness, transparency, proportionality, and opportunities for professional remediation.
He noted that with specific reference to the recent case of EURACARE, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel’s Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure, which call for confidentiality, were breached, and media trials began even before the doctors were informed of the panel’s decisions.
He emphasised that the regulation of medical practice must always prioritise patient safety, but at the same time, it must preserve the dignity, mental well-being, and professional future of doctors who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
Kuti stated, “A balanced, fair, and humane approach to regulation will ultimately serve both the medical profession and the Nigerian public better.”
The GMD president stated that the guild remains committed to working collaboratively with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and other stakeholders to strengthen ethical medical practice in Nigeria, adding that constructive engagement between regulators, healthcare providers, and professional bodies will be essential in ensuring that disciplinary actions protect patients while also safeguarding the sustainability of the nation’s healthcare system.
PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported that Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital defended its clinical staff following the suspension of its Medical Director, Dr Tunde Majekodunmi, and two other doctors over the death of Nkanu.
“We, however, wish to place on record our confidence in the professionalism and integrity of our clinical team. Dr Tosin Majekodunmi and Dr Titus Ogundare are experienced professionals whose records of service to patients in Nigeria span many years.
“Both doctors have, in their respective careers, contributed meaningfully to the delivery of quality healthcare to Nigerian patients at a standard comparable to what is obtainable in the world’s leading medical facilities,” the hospital asserted.
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