Nigerian Doctors Oppose NUC’s Decision to Grant 'Doctor' Title to Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry Graduates

Nigerian Doctors Oppose NUC’s Decision to Grant 'Doctor' Title to Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry Graduates

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has expressed strong opposition to the National Universities Commission's (NUC) recent decision to upgrade the degree status of Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry programmes in Nigerian universities from bachelor's degrees to "Doctor" status. 

The NUC introduced the changes in January, aiming to enhance clinical training, improve foundational courses, and cover speciality areas more comprehensively.

While the NUC defended the move as a necessary step to improve the quality of education and healthcare delivery, NARD raised concerns about the potential consequences of the decision. The association argued that conferring the title of "Doctor" on multiple health professions without proper public education or clarity could lead to confusion among patients, increase tensions between different healthcare professions, and contribute to the rise of quackery in Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.