The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria says while the proposed Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria Act 2020 may seemingly favour medical doctors, it was as an affront against other health workers in the country.
Recall that the Joint Health Sector Unions made a similar demand on February 5, saying the bill would further cause division in the country’s health sector.
Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, JOHESU president reminded the senate committee on health on the MDCN Act, 2020 of the existing rules of the National Assembly not to consider legislating on matters before the court.
A letter addressed to the Senate by CPAN National Chairman, Dr. Joseph Madu stressed that the MDCN bill if passed and signed into law as it is currently, would invariably and negatively affect the health situations of approximately 180 to 200 million Nigerians.
“We wish to call the attention of the Nigerian Senate Committee on health to the fact that if this bill is passed and allowed to become law, it will become the most injurious law as regards healthcare and health of Nigerians in this century and in the future.
“It is not only fake drugs that kill but genuine drugs in the hands of those not trained to excel on drugs (non-drug experts) also kill. Drug therapy problems or medication errors have been documented to be a multi-billion dollars issue to many governments,” he said.
The clinical pharmacist noted that it was important for our lawmakers to reflect and emphasize that no life lost can be equated to monetary values.
“Why to propose a bill that will kill Nigerians instead of saving lives if implemented?” he queried.
Continuing, he urged members of the Senate Committee on Health should consider the already poor health index of Nigeria (189 out of 190 countries surveyed by WHO) to avoid anything that would further worsen the health care system of the country.
“Already the average life expectancy of Nigerians is 54, which is painfully low compared to nations like the UK and the US with an average life expectancy of about 97 and 98 respectively.
“The reason for such longevity in the above-mentioned countries is because such countries have enviable health systems based on health personnel work which is highly viewed as a teamwork as well as enviable health system bills or laws,” he said.
According to him, no health Professional should be permitted to boss over the other by any bill or otherwise, especially by those who have been accused of promoting quackery by training auxiliary nurses in private clinics.
“No particular health care Professional should boss over members of other health care professions except through government-approved hierarchical standards,” he said.
CPAN, the body saddled with the responsibility of advising government and policy-makers on aspects of pharmaceutical care expressed that the MDCN Act could put patients under undue pressure if passed into law.
