Ndububa V I
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medicine and Health-sciences, Imo State University, Owerni, Nigeria.
Niger J Med. 2007 Oct-Dec;16(4):312-7. doi: 10.4314/njm.v16i4.37328.
This paper examines the magnitude and scope of medical quackery practice in 21st Century Nigeria and wonders why there is so much complacency in tackling the problem. It also proffers solutions to the malady.
Definition and brief history of medical quackery both in the developed world and Nigeria is given. The scope of the practice in Nigeria is then examined.
Medical quackery is rampant in Nigeria; Culprits cut across the whole strata of medical and health practitioners. The so called alternative/natural health practice has particularly assumed great popularity lately and the Federal Government seems to turn the other way in spite of their unsubstantiated, largely placebo 'Cures'. Homeopathy, in particular, is a medical quackery per excellence and should be banned. Law Enforcement Agents, Medical Practice Licensing Board and other Health Professions Licensing Boards, Nigeria Medical Association and other Health Profession Associations should take this problem seriously. Legislations should be made where they have not been made and enforced where they have been made and various professional bodies should not hesitate to sanction their erring members who deviate from acceptable practice. The government will also do well in addressing the key problems of poverty and illiteracy as these are twin brothers that promote the practice and acceptance of medical quackery.
Unless concerted efforts are taken by all stake holders, especially the government, in tackling the health care problems in Nigeria, the decay in the system will continue and medical quackery will continue to thrive.
本文探讨了21世纪尼日利亚医疗欺诈行为的规模和范围，并思考为何在解决这一问题上如此懈怠。文章还提出了针对这一弊病的解决方案。
介绍了发达国家和尼日利亚医疗欺诈的定义及简史，随后考察了尼日利亚医疗欺诈行为的范围。
医疗欺诈在尼日利亚猖獗；涉事者涵盖了医疗和卫生从业者的各个阶层。所谓的替代/自然健康疗法近来尤其大受欢迎，尽管其疗效未经证实且大多只是安慰剂“疗法”，但联邦政府似乎对此视而不见。尤其是顺势疗法，堪称典型的医疗欺诈，应当被取缔。执法机构、医疗执业许可委员会以及其他卫生专业许可委员会、尼日利亚医学协会和其他卫生专业协会都应严肃对待这一问题。尚未立法的地方应制定法律，已有法律的地方应严格执行，各专业机构应毫不犹豫地制裁那些偏离可接受做法的违规成员。政府在解决贫困和文盲这两个关键问题上也应有所作为，因为它们是助长医疗欺诈行为及使其被接受的孪生因素。
除非所有利益相关者，尤其是政府，齐心协力解决尼日利亚的医疗保健问题，否则该体系的衰败将持续，医疗欺诈也将继续猖獗。
