The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has expressed deep concern over the recent decision by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to upgrade degree titles in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry from traditional Bachelor’s degrees to “Doctor” status in Nigerian universities.
In a communiqué published Thursday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, and signed by members of its National Executive Council, NARD cautioned that the new policy, if implemented without robust structural guidelines and public enlightenment, could cause confusion among patients and heighten inter-professional tensions in the healthcare system.
While acknowledging the legitimate aspirations of non-physician health professionals for improved professional recognition and welfare, NARD argued that such degree upgrades must not compromise clarity in clinical roles or the integrity of patient care.
“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. Teamwork in care delivery depends on clear roles and trust,” the statement read.
NARD pointed to a two-decade-long trend where, according to the association, several health worker groups have focused more on attaining parity with medical doctors than on driving systemic healthcare reform. The association cited repeated industrial actions between 2005 and 2025, primarily centered around aligning the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), as evidence of this trend.
Further, the doctors’ body warned that there is no global precedent—including in countries like the United Kingdom or Germany—where pharmacists, physiotherapists, or optometrists in public institutions are designated as “Doctors” upon completion of undergraduate education.
“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,” the communiqué added.
NARD challenged the NUC’s justification for the reform, which it said was premised on “global best practices.” The association insisted that most advanced countries draw a clear distinction between medical doctors and other health professionals, even where those professionals pursue advanced degrees.
The association called on the NUC to reconsider the decision, urging instead for policies that promote collaboration, clinical clarity, and excellence within the Nigerian health sector.
In January 2025, the NUC introduced sweeping reforms to the Nigerian university curriculum. These included the upgrade of certain medical-related programmes with clinical sessions — specifically in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry — from Bachelor’s degrees to Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry (OD) degrees.
The commission said the changes were necessary to deepen clinical training, improve the practical skills of graduates, and better align the programmes with international standards.
However, NARD has now joined a growing list of critics urging for measured implementation, warning that while educational reforms are welcome, they must not come at the cost of public trust, clinical governance, or professional identity.
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