The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN)’s immediate past president, Professor Akin Osibogun, emphasised the critical role postgraduate medical fellowships play in tackling the healthcare issues in Nigeria and producing top-tier experts. He also defended and elevated the rigorousness of fellowship programs as he described them as similar to or surpassing PhD requirements in terms of academic and clinical training, while speaking at the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics’ (NAMDA) annual conference.
Over 85,000 doctors have been trained in Nigeria, but only 45,000 of them are actively practicing there because of emigration, according to Osibogun’s history of medical Education in the country. Organisations like as the NPMCN, which has taught 80% of the nation’s medical educators, have made a substantial contribution to the international recognition of physicians with Nigerian training. He complimented fellowship programs for this achievement, claiming that mandating fellows to acquire additional PhDs would compromise efficiency and patient care, given that 15,000 to 20,000 Nigerian doctors are currently practicing in the UK and the USA.
Nigerian physicians have excellent training for global competition.
He emphasised the financial side of things, saying that a six-year Nigerian medical Curriculum would cost ₦18–30 million, which is a lot less than the $370,000 US doctors make. Nigerian physicians have excellent training, which makes them competitive on a worldwide scale despite their limited resources. Osibogun emphasised the necessity of addressing the scarcity of healthcare workers and safeguarding the integrity of medical education, warning against policies that place needless demands on medical educators.
More so, he asked interested parties to boost funding for resident physician research and to fortify current frameworks, such as the partnership between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). Instead of making postgraduate medical education more difficult, policymakers ought to concentrate on measures that strengthen it. With over 15,000 practicing in the UK and the USA and others succeeding in Canada and Saudi Arabia, Nigerian-trained physicians have built an enviable international reputation. As an illustration of the adaptability and superior training of these experts, 632 Nigerian-trained physicians were working in Canada by 2020.
Country fellowships are praised for their rigorousness.
Also, during the six-year period from 2015 to 2021, 4,528 Nigerian-trained physicians relocated to the UK, passing demanding licensing tests like the PLAB and landing important positions in foreign healthcare systems. Recent initiatives to match medical education with higher academic standards, especially in research-focused universities, have led to calls for medical educators in Nigeria to acquire PhDs. Doctoral degrees, according to proponents, could improve the theoretical underpinnings of medical education, research output, and worldwide competitiveness. A doctorate is frequently required for tenure-track employment in institutions, a global movement in academia that has an impact on this viewpoint.
Furthermore, fellowships prioritise clinical experience and practical knowledge, while PhDs provide a chance for multidisciplinary cooperation and in-depth research training. These benefits may encourage new approaches to medical education and healthcare provision. Additionally, PhDs would make it possible for professors to undertake innovative research and obtain foreign financing, which would improve Nigerian medical schools’ reputation internationally. Nigerian fellowships are praised for their rigorousness, frequently going above and beyond the requirements of a PhD program. Comparatively, the USA places more emphasis on residency programs approved by the ACGME, whereas nations such as the UK demand structured postgraduate training with tests like the MRCP and FRCS.
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Additionally, Nigerian doctors compete well on the global scene despite financial and Infrastructure obstacles, demonstrating the effectiveness of the country’s fellowship program. The Nigerian Medical Association and other policymakers contend that requiring more degrees, such as PhDs, could worsen Brain Drain and put undue weight on the already overburdened healthcare system. In addition, practicing physicians have expressed worries about juggling clinical responsibilities and academic obligations, stressing the importance of patient-centered, hands-on training above redundant academic credentials.