28th November, 2022
The Lagos branch of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has explained how one Dr Poroye O. Franklin, who was falsely parading himself as a registered medical practitioner in a private hospital in the state was busted.
According to Chairman, Lagos NMA, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, in a statement on Sunday, Franklin was using the license and folio number of another doctor to work.
He said this was conformed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria during the investigation of the Poroye Franklin, it conducted with the support of the Lagos State Police Command.
In the statemnt, “A few days ago, the attention of NMA Lagos State was called to a situation in one of our private hospitals operating in Lagos State concerning suspicion that one Dr Poroye O. Franklin, who was parading himself as a registered Medical Practitioner was not one, but instead a quack
“A letter was immediately dispatched by NMA Lagos to the registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, to confirm his status as a registered medical practitioner.
“In their response, the MDCN confirmed that the license submitted was fake and the folio number submitted belonged to another doctor.
“Immediately after the response from MDCN was received, the leadership of NMA Lagos state, in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Force and the management of the private facility, effected his arrest in a sting operation and he is currently in police custody.
“The issue of quackery within the health sector is something that the current leadership of NMA, both at National and State branch levels, take seriously and this has led to the setting up of committees on anti-quackery in all state branches of NMA and at the National Level.”
The Lagos NMA Chairman said a summit was organised earlier in the year in the state on the issue of quackery.
He added that document from the summit had been given to relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Police Command by the leadership of NMA Lagos State for their input before it was presented to the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He added: “We want to assure Lagosians that NMA Lagos State will continue to ensure that they get the best in terms of healthcare service as we will leave no stone unturned in our determination to rid Lagos State healthcare system of quacks and fake doctors.”