The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has raised concerns over proposed amendments to key health laws, warning that the move could impose what it described as a “regulatory apartheid regime” in Nigeria’s healthcare system and destabilise professional practice.
Addressing journalists, JOHESU leaders alleged that some medical practitioners are backing executive-supported amendment bills aimed at overriding the statutory authority of other health professional regulatory bodies.
JOHESU Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, stressed that healthcare delivery is multidisciplinary and cautioned against any attempt to subordinate other professions under a single regulatory structure.
“The healthcare system thrives on teamwork and interdependence. No single profession is the Alpha and Omega of healthcare delivery. Each profession has its statutory mandate, body of knowledge, and regulatory framework established by law to protect patients and the public,” he said.
The union cited past court rulings upholding the independence of non-medical regulatory bodies, including the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, and the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria.
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Minjibir cited a 2007 Federal High Court judgment in Lagos that affirmed the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria’s powers to regulate pharmacy practice across the public and private sectors. He also recalled a 2018 suit by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria seeking broader regulatory authority for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, which was struck out for lack of evidence.
JOHESU further opposed proposals to alter the governing board of the Pharmacy Council by introducing “community interest” representatives, arguing that such changes could undermine professional autonomy and globally recognised Good Pharmacy Practice standards.
On the long-running dispute between doctors and medical laboratory scientists, the union referenced a 2016 judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which affirmed the professional independence of medical laboratory scientists under the MLSCN Act.
The union also criticised provisions in a proposed Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2026 bill, particularly clauses restricting prescription rights without clearly defining the term. JOHESU said the provisions could weaken primary healthcare delivery and reverse global trends where pharmacists and other trained professionals are authorised to prescribe certain medications.
Additionally, JOHESU warned lawmakers against legislating on matters currently before the courts, describing such action as improper and potentially contrary to parliamentary practice.
Calling on the National Assembly to reject any amendment that would centralise regulatory authority under one profession, the union said such a move would endanger patient safety, institutional stability, and Nigeria’s compliance with international best practices.
JOHESU urged policymakers to prioritise collaboration, statutory clarity, and respect for existing legal frameworks to safeguard the country’s healthcare system.
