Enugu NMA decries quackary in medical profession

Dr Celestine Ugwuoke, the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),
Enugu State chapter, has decried the rate of quackery in medical profession, saying the situation has caused the death of many Nigerians.

Ugwuoke, a Radiologist Consultant at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, said this in Nsukka on Tuesday at a news conference
on what Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State would do to end medical quackery in the state.He said that for the medical profession in Enugu State to solve health problems of residents, the activities of quacks must be dealt
with to ensure quality healthcare services. 

He added that “the state must get rid of quacks and charlatans in the profession to restore dignity and guarantee
quality healthcare.

“Quacks have caused the death of many unsuspecting citizens; some of them are taking up tasks outside their medical training.

“It’s  unfortunate that some nurses now perform surgery, which is outside the field of their training, while some Patent Medicine
Shop owners popularly known as chemist now  give intravenous injection to patients.”

Suggesting a way out, the NMA chairman acknowledged that efforts by the association to stem the tide in the past had not yielded
the much-needed results due to some factors. He congratulated the new Enugu State governor for his successful inauguration and appealed to him
to set up an Anti-quack Taskforce that would include government officials, security agencies  and NMA members
to fish out the bad eggs. 

The consultant also urged government to ensure adequate remuneration and good welfare for medical practitioners in the country, saying
it would discourage the present exodus of health workers.