…advocates rethink of Govt’s role in health care delivery
By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)’s State Monitoring Committee.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is the regulatory body for the practice of Medicine, Dentistry and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria.
The 5-man committee was inaugurated on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Government House, Benin City.
According to law, the State Committee is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that medical, dental and alternative medical practitioners in the State operate in accordance with approved guidelines and standards.
Obaseki said: “For us in Edo, our responsibility as government is to care, provide and ensure that our citizens receive the best health care services possible in Edo State. It doesn’t mean that the government must provide that care.
“What it means is that the government must now regulate those who provide that care to ensure that our people and citizens get the best of care; and that the care providers are compelled to perform and do the things they need to do to provide quality and standard of care that we desire in Edo State.”
He added: “Malpractices and unethical conducts by healthcare providers will be duly addressed, while ethical conducts will be rewarded,” and charged the committee members to give their best as they were carefully selected for the job.
Amongst other responsibilities, the committee is expected to ensure that any person who performs any medical activity in Edo State is duly registered and licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; and to report cases of unethical practices and conducts to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to law enforcement agencies in the State.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman who is also the Director, Medical Services, Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Edward Aisowieren, expressed appreciation to the Governor for the appointment and timing, and his uncommon commitment to a well regulated health space in the State.
