Dr Celestine Ugwuoke, the Chairman of, the 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 the 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 chemists now give an intravenous injection to patients,”
The NMA Chairman, while congratulating the new Enugu State governor for his successful inauguration, 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.
He also urged the government to ensure adequate remuneration and good welfare for medical practitioners in the country, saying it would discourage the present exodus of health workers.
