Senate tasks FG, NMA over fake medical reports

Senate has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to set up an efficient and proper mechanism to identify and prevent proliferation of fake medical reports emanating from public hospitals in the country.

According to the upper legislative chamber, the trend of issuing and receiving fake medical reports has posed a big danger to the country and its citizens.

It, therefore, urged the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA to intensify its effort in checking incidences of fraud and quackery in the medical profession, especially in public hospitals.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion, “The proliferation of Fake medical reports emanating from public hospitals in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Ekwunife, Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central)

Ekwunife, while presenting the motion, said a recent investigation revealed the ease with which “authentic” medical reports can be obtained from some public hospitals in Nigeria for a fee, and without requiring any medical tests whatsoever, or even proof of identity.

She said the commercialization of medical reports poses a grave danger to the medical health and safety of the citizens and could result in fatal misdiagnosis of patients or anyone else who relies on the contents of such medical reports.

The lawmaker said medical report is so important a document which is accorded great weight and importance in the ordinary course of our day to day business, including courts of law.”

“The medical report contains an individual’s personal medical records and details which are used to ascertain a person’s medical condition, obtain health benefits, certify one’s mental state, investigate addictions, diagnose treatments, and most importantly, ascertain and form medical opinions,” she stressed.

Ekwunife lamented that “the integrity of the medical report is being compromised and eroded by the realization that it may not contain the true and accurate medical details of the person named in the report.”

According to her, the Code of Ethics of the medical profession abhors the illegal issuance of medical certificates and records to patients without conducting all the relevant tests.

Contributing, Senator Theodore Orji (PDP Abia Central), said because of quest for money, medical practitioners keep issuing fake medical reports without caring about the damages it cause.

He said the NMA must monitor its members, who engage in such illegal act.

Also, Senator Patrick Abba Moro (PDP Benue South) said the new development was worrying adding that fake medical report combined with the existence of fake drugs to push eminent danger to the country.

He said innocent persons are vulnerable to conviction adding that such an act by medical practissioners should be condemn and that the security agencies and the government should rise to the challenge and sanction such people who engaged in illegality.

But Senator Sandy Onuh (PDP Cross Rivers Central) said across the globe, Nigerian doctors are rated the best adding that the motion raised by their colleague shows that bad medical report leads to avoidable deaths.

Former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu West) said the ongoing unprofessionalism should be condemned, adding that professionals in the country are failing because of lack of standards.

He said beyond the general ethical conduct guiding the professions, there should be a law that should save the country from embarrassment.

Former Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC Kebbi South) said the fake medical  reports are not what can be described as a comprehensive medical reports which he said are carried out by different medical doctors.

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