By Peace Erewunmi

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged doctors across the country to take the lead in the fight against quackery and unethical practices in the healthcare sector.

The association said efforts to protect patients and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system must begin with doctors maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct.

NMA President, Prof. Afekhide Omoti, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday at the association’s First Ordinary National Executive Council meeting of its 2026 National Officers’ Committee.

The meeting, themed “Transforming Healthcare Practice in Nigeria: Building Trust, Accountability and Collaborative Excellence,” brought together medical practitioners and other stakeholders to discuss the future of healthcare delivery and challenges facing the profession.

Fight Against Quackery

Omoti described the fight against quackery as a major priority for the medical profession but stressed that doctors must also examine their own practices.

He urged medical practitioners to maintain high ethical standards while confronting unqualified individuals operating within the healthcare sector.

According to him, tackling external threats such as quackery must go hand in hand with ensuring accountability and professionalism among qualified practitioners.

The NMA has identified quackery and professional misconduct as major threats to patient safety and the credibility of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Healthcare System Under Pressure

The NMA president also highlighted several challenges putting pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system.

These include rapid technological developments, changing patterns of disease, increasing patient expectations, shortages of healthcare workers, migration of medical professionals and growing concerns about patient safety.

Omoti said rebuilding public confidence would require more than efforts to eliminate quackery, stressing the importance of trust, accountability, professional excellence and collaboration.

He maintained that doctors have a responsibility to ensure that patients receive safe and quality care while upholding the ethical standards expected of the profession.

Standards and Teamwork

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Emeka Ayogu, also emphasised the importance of professional standards and teamwork in healthcare delivery.

He said clearly defined standards determine how healthcare professionals should practise, while effective teamwork is essential to achieving better outcomes for patients.

According to him, both principles have significant implications for patient safety, professional integrity and public confidence in the healthcare system.

The Chairman of the NMA Federal Capital Territory branch, Dr George Ebong, described the association as more than a professional body, saying its members were united by service, sacrifice and commitment to humanity.

He pledged the FCT branch’s support for the national leadership, particularly in advancing doctors’ welfare and professional development.

Call for Greater Accountability

The NMA’s renewed call comes amid longstanding concerns about unqualified practitioners and unethical practices in parts of Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which regulates the practice of medicine and dentistry in the country, also provides channels for reporting suspected quack personnel, institutions and hospitals.

The NMA’s position is that stronger regulation and enforcement must be accompanied by greater accountability among qualified medical professionals.

As the association continues its deliberations on doctors’ welfare, professional development and healthcare policy, it has placed professional ethics and patient safety at the centre of its call for a stronger and more trusted healthcare system.

For the NMA, confronting quackery is not only about removing unqualified practitioners from the system; it also requires doctors themselves to uphold the standards that define the medical profession.