Patients know they can sue their doctors if… – MDCN

So patients can now seek redress if they are not satisfied with the services of their medical personnel, especially if it leads to complications? Yes, because one of the most important things is the awareness we are creating for patients to stand up for their rights, in the sense that before now, we had doctors who […]

So patients can now seek redress if they are not satisfied with the services of their medical personnel, especially if it leads to complications?
 Yes, because one of the most important things is the awareness we are creating for patients to stand up for their rights, in the sense that before now, we had doctors who thought they can do whatever they wanted to do without being guided. But now we have made it a policy for doctors to update themselves.
In the course of providing services, any patient not satisfied with these services can report the doctor to us in spite of the mandate of the council to look into complaints by patients.
If the doctor is found wanting, then we take appropriate action against the doctor.
Before, people did not know what Medical and Dental Council is, and what it does. But I think there is a greater awareness now even as the doctors have been able to rise up to the challenges ahead; the challenges they face in their workplace and challenges of meeting patients’ expectations.
How far have you gone in reviewing the act that established the council?
The act establishing the council mandates it to discipline erring professionals. Part of the schedule of this act is the establishment of disciplinary organs which include the investigative panel and the disciplinary tribunal. So as we are reviewing the act now; we want to also touch on this disciplinary action because as it is now, at the end of a trial maybe a sanction is given to a doctor who was found guilty at the tribunal level, either he takes that sanction, serves the sentence given to him or he appeals to the appellate court.
Going to the appellate court takes a longer time before the case is looked at or even disposed. So part of the recommendations we want to make is to have an appeal committee; after tribunal proceedings or trials at the tribunal, the committee can look at the proceedings, either to review the cases or to uphold the sanctions. So these are part of the review. The act, which is like the constitution, is still under review. There are a lot of legal intrigues there which will be handled by lawyers and from there we pass it to the legislators through the Federal Ministry of Health. So it’s quite a cumbersome and herculean task.
Tell us about the award you were given by the Commonwealth University, and what is it about?
This award is an honourary award by the Commonwealth University which is based in the UK. There are 10 of us from Nigeria. My own award is Doctor of Science (D.Sc) honorary causa. They said I was selected based on merit and because of my past performance, my current job and also my academic background.
When does the institution give awards?
I think it’s an annual thing. It goes round the world to select people it feels merit the award within the Commonwealth nations.
What are the implications of the award on your work?
You know it’s an honorary award but it adds to my qualifications and colours my charisma and image as the registrar and operating officer of this regulatory body – Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. It will also go a long way in encouraging me at least, to do more in my present job.
As you complete your tenure, what would you be remembered for by the council?
I have been on this post of a substantive registrar for the past six and a half years and since then, a lot of changes have been made. One of them is relocating the head office from Lagos to our permanent site here in Abuja and building a befitting secretariat for the organisation.
Also, we have moved from manual to electronics transactions. Formerly we produced certificates manually but now we do it online; doctors can register online and process it electronically. Also, we have achieved a lot regarding doctors’ performances. What this means is that we introduced continuous professional development where we made it a policy for every doctor to update him or herself in his or her field so they can be better healthcare providers to the patient and to the citizenry of this country.
Also, we have developed more capacity in terms of resources, that is, human resources within the organisation. We have also diversified by making more openings through our zonal offices. We have offices in each of the geo-political zones. Most of the properties are ours. Doctors coming into the secretariat can testify to all these innovations and achievements.
In the past, a doctor could spend the whole day trying to transact or collect his certificate but now, he doesn’t spend more than 10 or 20 minutes before he gets back to his duty post. Indeed, we have made a lot of progress.
When will our hospitals get to patients’ file and data in digital format?
Every now and then, our training institutions are evolving new ways and new approaches to things. We are moving from manual to electronic system, not only in the hospitals but in organisations. You’re talking of paperless offices.
So it’s happening in hospitals. A lot of three, four, five star private hospitals are already doing it because they are computerised. So also you will find, very few of our hospitals, their record systems have been computerised. But I believe, way back in 2007, the Federal Ministry of Health brought a policy directing a uniform database for all the tertiary hospitals, including all health agencies related to the health system, like the regulatory bodies, to computerise their record system.