Agency

The Nigerian Medical Association has debunked the bribery allegation against medical doctors, stressing that it upholds ethical and professional standards to strengthen public trust in the medical profession.

The Chairman, NMA Lagos Zone, Dr Babajide Saheed, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

He said this while reacting to an online publication which alleged that “two-thirds of Nigerian doctors and nurses demand bribes before attending to patients.”

The NMA zonal chairman pointed out that the online media publication claimed to have drawn the report from a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics report titled, ‘Corruption in Nigeria: Pattern and Trends’.

He stated, “If the reporter had done due diligence, he/she would have realised that the respondents-based national survey of 33,035 households in the 36 States and FCT reported 4 per cent requests by or payments of bribes among doctors, nurses and midwives cluster.

“Despite having some reservations about the professionals’ clustering of doctors, nurses and midwives in the survey, we are still at a loss as to where the reporter got his or her two-third quoted figure.

“A whooping 67 per cent instead of the four per cent reported in the referenced NBS report.

“While we pledge to continue to give our best to our esteemed patients, we however frown at any attempt to malign our hardworking and ever-sacrificing members,” he said.

Saheed warned that NMA would not hesitate to use lawful means to seek redress for perceived damage to the noble profession.

The Chairman commended the efforts of NBS and its collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes to stamp corruption out of Nigeria and the courage to publish the third corruption survey.

He noted that it was heartwarming that the survey reported in a section that more than 70 per cent of respondents refused to pay bribes demanded by public officials.

“Meaning that Nigerians are increasingly empowered to confront and decline requests from bribe-seeking corrupt officials to do their work,” he added.

The chairman emphasised that the medical practitioners’ community and its regulatory body – the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria have a robust disciplinary process for erring members and would not condone misconduct from its members.

According to Saheed, the NMA Lagos continues to hold the generality of the Nigerian media in high esteem and would not like to join issues with any section of the revered fourth estates of the realm.

He, therefore, demanded that the maligning and misleading online report be pulled down by its publisher.

The Chairman emphasised that Nigerian doctors were among the most sought-after healthcare practitioners in the world, adding, “Our work ethic is still top-notch despite the overwhelming workload caused by a grossly disproportionate doctor-to-patient ratio, exacerbated by abysmal remuneration and poor facilities.”

Saheed added that these factors had led to an exodus of its members seeking greener pastures.

(NAN)