ABUJA (Health Ministry’ Report)- The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has recently approved a memoranda from Federal Ministry of Health, seeking for approval of central coordination, placement, posting and funding of all Medical and Dental graduates to Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) accredited Housemanship and Internship training centres.
According to a statement released to the press by the Director, Media and Public Relations of the Ministry, the MoU is to address the enormous challenges fresh graduates face in securing placement for the one year mandatory programmes.
“Over the years due to constraints in the funding of the Housemanship and Internship training in Nigeria, a large number of fresh Medical and Dental graduates have not been able to undertake and complete the training within the allotted time limit thereby preventing them from becoming fully registered Medical and Dental Practitioners ready for services within and outside Nigeria,” the statement said.
It further discloded that Housemanship and Internship training is the last basic training hub of all fresh Medical and Dental graduates from Nigeria and Foreign Institutions.
“These graduates are required by law to complete their uninterrupted 12 calendar months rotational Housemanship and Internship training and obtain a certificate of experience from any of the MDCN accredited training institutions,” it said
On completion of the training, they are eligible to be placed on the full Medical and Dental register as provided in the Medical and Practitioners act Cap M8LFN 2004, Section 18 which will enable them to practice as Medical and Dental Practitioners.
According to the statement, with the approval from the Federal Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Health will work with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and Federal Ministry of Finance to implement this laudable programme to be domiciled in Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
This would clear the large backlog of fresh Medical and Dental graduates that have been unable to undergo the training due to absence of central coordination, poor funding, and inability to pay salaries and allowances among others.
