The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on Thursday, inducted 55 newly qualified doctors at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo, into the profession.
The Registrar of the council, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, 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.
In his remarks, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the inductees at the 18th oath taking and induction ceremony were made up of 19 males and 36 females.
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.
