The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has disclosed that a law which would prescribe stiffer sanctions and penalties for doctors found guilty of gross misconduct, is currently undergoing review. Speaking to journalists yesterday on the council’s activities, the registrar, Dr Abdulmunin Ibrahim, said the act setting up the council was obsolete and weak as it cannot mete out strong punishment for doctors found wanting in the discharge of their duties. He noted that the review became necessary following the magnitude of cases of negligence against doctors practicing in the country, especially cases that have to do with life.

The registrar also disclosed that the tribunal has disciplined about 10 doctors within a year from June 2014 to July 2015 from about 30 cases. He said the doctors were sanctioned based on the magnitude of their offences ranging from three to six months withdrawal of licenses. He added that the council has over 78,000 registered doctors from 1963 till date though it does not translate to the doctors currently practicing in the country. “We have to note that this does not mean that these are the number of doctors practicing in the country as some have left. But, tentatively, we have less than 40,000 now practicing in Nigeria while over 10,000 are outside the country practicing.”