By Victoria Ojeme
ABUJA—Worried by increasing number of quack doctors and dentist in the country, the Chairman, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Roger Makanjuola, has announced the suspension of membership of graduates of medical departments of  the University of   Benin and Igbinedion University, Okada, citing poor learning  infrastructures and overcrowding .

He also urged the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria checkmate the influx of fake drugs to the country from China.

Dr. Makanjuola, who disclosed this at the commissioning of the council’s new secretariat in Abuja, said the council would deal firmly with the charlatans in the system, adding that probe into other universities would soon follow.

“We are determined to deal firmly with the substantial number of charlatans in the system. These charlatans are  are a great danger to the people of this nation.

“They deceive people into subscribing to treatments that are ineffective and often dangerous , their interventions also lead to delays in seeking proper medical attention,” he said.

Makanjuola urged doctors and dentist who are yet to register with the Master Registered Dentist in Nigeria to do so on or before December 31, 2010, to enable their names be on the 2011 new register.

On the influx of fake drugs into the country, Makanjuola said “we have to meet with the Chinese Ambassador to stop this rubbish being brought into this country.

“We cannot afford to have sub-standard  equipment in this country, we have developed a set of minimum standard for doctors and dentist.

“It has been observed that some institution standards have fallen in terms of good standard and quality equipment, that is why these two universities’ health department is being closed for poor facilities and many more will follow as soon as we are through with our investigation because they have failed to meet the Nigeria standard.”

Minister of Health, Prof Oyinbuchi Chwuku, expressed concern about maintenance of medical equipment, and called on medical personal to ensure high standards in all parts of the profession “We need to police our self better and regulate ourselves, we can not keep blaming other people when we import toothpick, lets ask ourselves what have we done or produce,” the minister said.