MDCN accredits new hospitals for medical graduates’ housemanship

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has begun accreditation of more hospitals in both urban and underserved areas to increase housemanship placements.

The new move is also to meet the current output of medical/dental graduates and accommodate foreign-trained medical/dental graduates in the scheme. About 114 hospitals, including federal teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, and some specialist hospitals are presently accredited for housemanship, with only 44 federal institutions participating in the centralised portal.

MDCN Registrar, Prof Fatima Kyari, who disclosed this, explained that the centralised housemanship placement portal was introduced in 2021 to streamline the placement process and ensure fairness in allocations.

According to her, the goal was to eliminate unnecessary delays, favouritism, and unequal opportunities that plagued the old system. By centralising the process, every eligible graduate now has equal access to the available slots.

She said the system has brought significant improvements, but the challenges faced today reveal the complex realities of a growing medical workforce and limited capacity.

Kyari, however, observed that a significant issue is the graduates’ preference to work in urban centres like Lagos and Abuja, where infrastructure, security, and amenities are perceived to be better, which creates intense competition for slots in these cities, leaving many hospitals in underserved areas with unfilled quotas.

She stated that hospitals in underserved areas offer critical opportunities for young doctors to gain diverse experiences while addressing the healthcare needs of communities that are often neglected, adding that they plan to encourage placements in these areas through targeted incentives and improved infrastructure.

The registrar observed that for the newly qualified Nigerian doctor, the housemanship year represents a critical step in transitioning from learning to hands-on medical/dental practice as it is a period of work under supervision, a time to refine skills, build confidence, and prepare for the rigours of independent medical/dental practice.

Kyari stated that in recent years, this crucial stage has become a focal point of frustration for many young doctors, due to the variation of placement slots, regional preferences, and systemic challenges.

She explained that the centralised housemanship scheme (CHMS) was initiated by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in 2021, to address some of these challenges and over 12,000 house officers have benefitted from the CHMS since its inception.

She said the systemic reform, however, requires improving the quality of training and working conditions for house officers, ensuring that they are not only well-prepared for their roles as independent healthcare professionals but also motivated to remain within the Nigerian healthcare system.

Kyari stressed that the exodus of doctors seeking better opportunities abroad popularly known as the “japa syndrome” is a concern that requires urgent attention. According to her, addressing it means tackling broader issues, including remuneration, security, career growth, and workplace environments.

She said, “The Health Workforce Migration Policy (2024) developed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and recently signed by President Bola Tinubu is targeted at ameliorating these issues.

“We need to re-evaluate how we nurture and prepare our young professionals. The culture of entitlement, favouritism, and short-term thinking undermines the principles upon which the Hippocratic Oath is administered.

“The housemanship year should not be reduced to a competition for urban placements but seen as an opportunity to serve, learn, and grow in diverse settings. For this to happen, a collective effort is needed to foster a sense of responsibility and fairness among graduates, their families, and the broader community.”

Kyari called for continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, stakeholder collaboration, and collective commitment to ethical practices to ensure a resilient and equitable healthcare system capable of delivering quality care for all Nigerians, irrespective of where they live.

“As part of this commitment, the renovation and upgrading of six federal teaching hospitals across the country under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) exemplifies the strides being made to strengthen the foundation of medical training and healthcare delivery.

“These upgrades are not merely infrastructural improvements but are critical investments in the future of healthcare, ensuring that young doctors have access to state-of-the-art facilities for learning and practice,” she added.