Proprietors Seek Inclusion On Govt’s Medical Students Plan

The Association of Presidents and Proprietors of Higher Institutions in Nigeria (APPHIN) has backed the federal government’s plan to expand medical education and support the recruitment and training of 20,000 medical students annually, while calling for the full inclusion of private higher institutions in the initiative.

The association, in a statement signed by its national secretary, Dr Kamaludeen Muhammed, commended the minister of education for his efforts to reform and reposition the Nigerian education sector.

APPHIN described the 20,000-medical-students initiative as a significant milestone in the federal government’s efforts to address the shortage of medical professionals in the country and strengthen human capital development.

The association said the expansion of medical education would help increase access to quality healthcare and contribute to Nigeria’s sustainable national development.

“APPHIN particularly applauds the Federal Ministry of Education for its bold and forward-looking initiative aimed at expanding medical education and supporting the recruitment and training of 20,000 medical students annually,” the statement said.

The proprietors, however, urged the ministry to ensure that private higher institutions with the required infrastructure, academic personnel and capacity are fully integrated into the implementation framework.

According to APPHIN, the private sector has significant capacity to invest in infrastructure, innovation and professional training and should therefore be given a meaningful role in the national medical workforce development agenda.

The association also called for clear and accessible guidelines on how private institutions can access and utilise accredited medical simulation centres for clinical and practical training.

It said such information should be readily available to educational investors and proprietors willing to invest in medical education and contribute to developing Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.

APPHIN further called for transparency in the process, including clear accreditation requirements, details of approved simulation centres, applicable fees, partnership arrangements and other operational guidelines.

“We specifically call for clear and accessible guidelines on the procedure for private institutions to access, engage and utilise accredited medical simulation centres for clinical and practical training,” it said.

The association urged the Federal Ministry of Education, relevant regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to establish a publicly accessible framework for collaboration between private higher institutions and accredited medical simulation centres.

It stressed that expanding medical education should be treated as a collective national responsibility involving government, private institutions, educational investors, regulators and other stakeholders.

“National medical education expansion should be a collective national effort involving government, private educational institutions, educational investors, regulators and other stakeholders,” APPHIN said.