This is to inform all Medical and Dental Practitioners in Nigeria and the general public that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is the appropriate agency of government with the statutory responsibility of Regulating Medical and Dental Practice in Nigeria.
This includes regulation for the operation of clinical laboratory practice. As provided in the extant Act i.e. the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8, LFN 2004, under S 1(2) (e) to wit: MDCN is responsible for making regulations for the operation of clinical laboratory practice in the field of Pathology which includes Histopathology, Forensic Pathology, Autopsy and Cytology, Clinical Cytogenetic, Hematology, Medical Microbiology and Medical Parasitology, Chemical Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Immunology and Medical Virology.
Consequent upon this provision, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria wishes to inform all Registered Medical and Dental Practitioners that they are entitled to practice all aspects of medicine to the extent of their expertise and experience. Such duly registered Medical and Dental Practitioners owe no allegiance whatsoever to any other health regulatory agency other than the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
This public notice has become necessary in the light of recent publication in some national dailies. Medical and Dental Practitioners should disregard such provocative notices. If any Regulatory Body is not satisfied with the status quo, the proper thing to do is to apply to the appropriate authorities for a redress. The heating up of the health sector by provocative public notices is counter productive.
For the avoidance of doubt, medical doctors and dentists who are fully registered with MDCN do not come under the purview of any section of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act, Cap M25 LFN 2004.
The general public should also note that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has in his wisdom reconstituted the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. The new Council was inaugurated on 25th November, 2013 and shortly the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal will commence the hearing of cases bordering on medical malpractice against registered Medical and Dental Practitioners. The public should continue to report any acts of medical malpractice against Medical and Dental Practitioners to Council.
Signed
Management
