Resident medical doctors oppose NUC’s improve of pharmacy, physiotherapy, optometry levels to ‘Physician’ standing
The Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Docs (NARD) has raised issues over the latest resolution by the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC) to improve diploma titles in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry from bachelor’s levels to “Physician” standing throughout Nigerian universities.
In a communiqué printed on its official X deal with on Thursday, the Nigerian Affiliation of Resident Docs (NARD), by a press release signed by its govt council, addressed the latest resolution by the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC) to improve sure diploma titles within the well being sector.
Whereas NARD acknowledged the aspirations of different healthcare professionals for improved recognition and welfare, it cautioned that the coverage shift may set off confusion amongst sufferers and escalate skilled rivalry throughout the well being sector.
The affiliation famous that over the previous twenty years, a number of well being employee {groups} have targeted extra on in search of parity with medical medical doctors than on driving broader systemic reforms.
In line with NARD, between 2005 and 2025, most strikes by these {groups} have centered on calls for to regulate the Consolidated Well being Wage Construction (CONHESS) to align with the Consolidated Medical Wage Construction (CONMESS).
International precedents and structural warnings
NARD emphasised that globally, there isn’t a precedent the place pharmacists, physiotherapists, or optometrists in public establishments earn greater than medical medical doctors.
It argued that sufferers usually search medical doctors for prognosis and therapy selections, a truth mirrored in wage buildings and scientific governance worldwide.
“Conferring the title ‘Physician’ on a number of skilled {groups} with out public training or structural readability could confuse sufferers, worsen interprofessional tensions, and allow quackery in an already fragile well being system.
“Teamwork in care supply will depend on clear roles and belief,” the assertion learn.
Requires warning and collaboration
The affiliation additionally questioned the NUC’s reference to “world finest practices,” noting that international locations such because the UK and Germany don’t confer the title of “Physician” on pharmacists or physiotherapists after undergraduate coaching, except by a PhD (Physician of Philosophy) programme. These techniques emphasize clear scientific boundaries and sturdy governance.
“We consider all healthcare professionals ought to take delight of their distinctive roles. If one needs to turn out to be a medical physician, there’s a rigorous, outlined pathway for that,” the assertion added.
The affiliation has urged the NUC to rethink this alteration and as a substitute pursue insurance policies that strengthen collaboration, readability, and excellence in healthcare.
What you need to know
In January, the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC) launched main reforms to Nigeria’s college system by upgrading sure medical-related programmes from a Bachelor’s Diploma to Physician Standing — particularly, Bachelor’s Levels with scientific classes.
In line with the NUC, the transfer was pushed by the necessity to incorporate extra scientific and sensible classes into the curriculum, guarantee ample protection of foundational programs, enhance scientific expertise, and comprehensively tackle all specialty areas inside these programmes.
The reforms purpose to strengthen the scientific and sensible parts of medical coaching, making certain that graduates are higher ready for the calls for of their professions and aligned with world requirements.
