The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has opposed the decision of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to confer the academic title of “Doctor” on graduates of Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry. The association warned that this change could confuse patients, weaken healthcare delivery, and increase professional tension within hospitals. In a statement by its Executive Council, NARD noted that while it respects the growth of every health profession, the title change without clear structure or education is risky.
“Conferring the title ‘Doctor’ on multiple professional groups without public education or structural clarity may confuse patients, worsen interprofessional tensions, and enable quackery in an already fragile health system,” the association warned.
Health professionals clash over NUC policy
NARD argued that the policy might worsen the existing rivalry between doctors and other health professionals. The group noted that many strike actions by non-doctor health workers over the past 20 years were focused on achieving salary equality with medical doctors instead of pushing for real health reforms. According to the association, “Globally, there is no precedent where pharmacists, physiotherapists, or optometrists in public institutions earn more than medical doctors. Patients typically seek doctors for diagnosis and treatment decisions—a fact reflected in salary structures and clinical governance worldwide.” The group said that instead of using global best practices as a blanket excuse, the NUC should review how the doctor title is earned in countries like the UK and Germany. In those countries, only PhD holders can be addressed as “Doctor” if they are not medical doctors.
Doctors call for collaboration, not confusion
NARD called on the NUC to drop the title upgrade policy and instead promote unity and clarity in the medical field. The association said the health system needs teamwork, not title competition. It urged stakeholders to avoid creating further confusion in the already tense system.
“We believe all healthcare professionals should take pride in their unique roles. If one wishes to become a medical doctor, there is a rigorous, defined pathway for that. We respectfully urge the NUC to reconsider this change and instead pursue policies that strengthen collaboration, clarity, and excellence in healthcare,” the group stated.
The controversy comes amid recent disagreements between the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos, with both groups clashing over consultant roles for pharmacists. While PSN described NMA’s position as a “declaration of war,” the NMA maintained that such roles lacked clinical relevance. Despite the heated debate, NARD emphasized that patient care must remain the top priority, not professional titles.
