The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has strongly refuted recent accusations by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) claiming that Nigerian doctors and medical professionals accept bribes from patients.
The association characterized the allegations as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of healthcare providers in the country.
In a press release signed by President Prof. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed and distributed to journalists in Jos, the association condemned the NBS report, which suggested that 42% of health workers accept bribes to expedite procedures, and 15% take bribes to finalize treatments.
The report, titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends Third survey on corruption as experienced by the population,” was presented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with fieldwork conducted by the NBS.
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MDCAN vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that Nigerian doctors, despite being among the lowest-paid globally, maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity. They argued that the methodology and geographic coverage of the NBS survey were not transparent and demanded access to these details.
President Mohammed emphasized that doctors are a minority in healthcare settings, where numerous other staff members interact with patients before they see a doctor. He criticized the report’s generalization of bribery allegations against doctors without proper identification of specific offenders.
The association acknowledged the presence of bad actors in every profession but stressed the unfairness of painting all Nigerian doctors with the same brush. They urged the NBS to retract the report unless it could provide convincing evidence supporting its claims.
“We have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite numerous challenges, carrying the burden of those who have left for better opportunities abroad,” Mohammed stated. “Labeling Nigerian doctors as corrupt without concrete evidence is demoralizing and unjust.”
MDCAN concluded by calling for a fair and thorough investigation into any corruption in healthcare facilities, advocating for targeted measures against specific individuals rather than smearing entire professions.
