The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has said online medical schools are not recognised in Nigeria.
The council affirmed that the practice of medicine requires in-person clinical training, laboratory work, and bedside teaching, all of which are mandatory components of medical education. It said final examinations for medical qualifications must include hands-on clinical assessments, which cannot be conducted virtually.
The MDCN restated its commitment to upholding the highest standards in medical and dental education and practice in the country.
It declared all foreign-trained medical and dental practitioners who have successfully passed the Foreign Trained Medical and Dental Graduates (FTMDG) Assessment Examination and received full registration as are now being recognised as fully registered professionals authorised to practice in Nigeria.
The council’s warning came on the heels of the speculation that practitioners were deemed to have met all statutory educational requirements, as outlined in the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act CAP M8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
These include earning the MBBS degree (or its equivalent), completing the required horsemanship, and obtaining the necessary certificate of experience.
It stressed that fully registered medical and dental practitioners who meet statutory requirements, including the MBBS degree, horsemanship, and certificate of experience, must also fulfill annual registration obligations.
While the practitioners are authorised to practice in Nigeria, the MDCN stressed the importance of renewing their Annual Practising Certificate.
The council announced the stipulations in separate statements on its website on Tuesday night.
It emphasised that the medical professionals must renew their Annual Practising Certificate to maintain their licensure.
The MDCN said its commitment to ensuring high standards in the medical field extends beyond the registration process, adding that it has been active in navigating the challenges posed by recent global disruptions, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.
The council, the conflicts have significantly impacted the education of many aspiring medical and dental practitioners.
In response to the challenges, the MDCN said it introduced several remediation pathways aimed at alleviating the difficulties faced by students whose studies were disrupted.
