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My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by MissJoy29(f): 3:05pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
I just hope this writing will be able to adequately capture my frustration, disappointment & dissatisfaction with the Nigeria Medical Doctors in particular & the Health sector in general. I also apologise in advance for the long post. For as long as I can remember, I have always been sceptical about going to hospitals. The attitude of the health workers there are nothing to write home about. Both the private and the public hospitals. Even though I still believe that public hospitals are far better than the private hospitals(especially the average ones) in terms of quality service(although you run the risk of dying before you are attended to due to how slow they are). There are so many anomalies in our hospitals. I have seen & heard really bizzare stuffs going on. From the nonchalant, impatient and highly unprofessional attitude of the attendants, the unhealthy environment, the cranky and harsh attitude of the nurses, the fact that there's also "who you know mentality" when lives are at stake, the subtle way they bill you unnecessarily by paying for almost everything you do in the hospital(consultation fee, file retrieval fee, unit fee, buying of this & that for your treatment that you will end up leaving for them), the lack of medical equipment, the walking up & down paying for one thing or another at different times(even when you are not fit)instead of paying at once,the number of unqualified & seasoned doctors, the location of a hospital's laboratory on the last floor of a three-storey building(like, who does that!!!!), the high cost of drugs and other medical supplies in the hospital's pharmacy as opposed to their cost outside etc. But I have a particular area I want to focus on. THE ATTITUDE OF THE NIGERIAN DOCTOR This thread was born out of my experiences this week at a teaching hospital. These experiences brought back all the others I have had to push to the back of my mind a long time ago for lack of an appropriate channel to express them. For the purpose of this thread, I'm going to use my experiences at ABSUTH (Abia State Teaching Hospital), LASUTH (Lagos State Teaching Hospital), LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital), National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi & few private hospitals as yardsticks to buttress my grievances. I'm also going to put into consideration, the attitude of my close friends who are medical personnels. Note: I'm not here to compare hospitals. I'm only using them to show that the attitudes of the doctors I met there may actually be same(or at least, almost same) with all of them in the country. Firstly, if I have met 15 medical doctors, only 1 turned out to be sympathetic and humane. Apart from my family doctors and this sympathetic doctor, I don't think I will ever recognise any of the doctors I have seen again. But after 5 years or so, I still recognised him when I saw him again recently at same hospital(and I have memory problems) Why? He was probably the first doctor I ever saw who actually listened cos they WANT TO not cos they HAVE TO. There's a big difference. Most of them just hear you. They don't listen & they don't allow you talk. That's why they ask you questions based on what THEY THINK you feel & not on what you KNOW you feel. Secondly, these doctors (except my humane doctor) make it look as if they are doing you a favour when they tell you about your ailment. It's as if they want you to pay consultation fees before they explain in details what you are passing through. What am I saying? One actually told me that! Inasmuch as I think majority of them don't actually know their profession that well, I still wonder why they choose to withhold & hoard information. It's bad enough they don't tell on their own without being asked. But it's even worse they withhold when asked. I have recurring ear ache that comes like every 2 years. This time around I asked the doctor (on the advice of a friend) what the cause of the problem is so I can avoid it. And he opened his mouth & said to me, "get solution first. What do you need the cause for? I was stunned to say the least! Thirdly, they are always very harsh & impatient. You come in to a doctor's office, 30 seconds later, you are out with a piece of paper filled with their illegible writing just cos they are more concerned with what they are scribbling based on what they THINK you are going through than on what you are actually saying. They are hurrying to see as many patients as possible to collect as much money from them as possible and also to go to their private clinics. So no adequate time allocated to a patient. Again, because of the attitude of some of these doctors, I'm really not surprised why I detest private hospitals because majorly, they are still the ones that establish it. The main reason why I hardly go to private hospitals is because I don't understand why someone will be, say an E.N.T doctor in a public hospital, but will end up being a GENERAL practitioner in his/her private hospital. They are now automatic Ob/gyn, optometrist, dentists, surgeons, paediatricians etc. I can't count the number of times they have mistreated cases they are supposed to refer to specialists like professionals do. After venting like this, I'd like to hear from the house. Knowing that people in the medical profession are supposed to be warm, humane, sympathetic, kind, friendly, patient, a listener, polite, knowledgeable, seasoned, capable etc, why then do you think most Nigerian medical doctors are cold, nonchalant, impatient, unkind, harsh, rude, condescending? Is it because that's who they are normally or are there some things in the sector and/or in the training process that turn & change them into the aforementioned? Doctors in the house & non-doctors like me, over to you. 110 Likes 19 Shares
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Amarabae(f): 3:15pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Having gone through your post, I really don't see how the doctors you met offended you, You came for treatment to be well and not for an interview class with the doc, there are crowd waiting also to be attended to. If he diagnose you, you have a phone, when you get home, you browse about the issue. Simple. You should not be in hospital to count which health professional laughed with you, you should be there to get help and go 106 Likes 11 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by MissJoy29(f): 5:03pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
@Amarabae, what you just typed, does it sound right to you? Besides, where in my post did I mention the word "offence"? 125 Likes 8 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by sirBLUNT: 5:51pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae:like seriously? he did not offend her? OK,you walked to the doctor's and complain of some strange monthly blood and you asked why is that and he tells you some gibberish and say this is the solution without telling you the cause and hit the internet to know more...then why the hell is a doc?why not stay at home and hit the net if a doc cannot tell you what you need to know...nigerian doc's are one of the most arrogant and obnoxious set of humans always displaying their demi god braggadocio traits in every little chance they got,making the patient look like he's ignorant and worthless, i've been a victim of their arrogancy and pls we should stop encourage them for their stupidity 233 Likes 20 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by MissJoy29(f): 5:59pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
sirBLUNT:God Bless you sir! At least someone gets it. 113 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Collins4u1(m): 7:09pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: if you must know, it's not on every post you will comment. sometimes just read and learn. 181 Likes 10 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by NobodyKnows(m): 9:30pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: 44 Likes 2 Shares
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by pocohantas(f): 9:31pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Hmmm... 1 Like |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by jarvis4: 9:31pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: 66 Likes 4 Shares
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by NobodyKnows(m): 9:32pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: ![]() 81 Likes 4 Shares
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Realname: 9:33pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
![]() Need I say more? Nigeria = animal kingdom 14 Likes |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by omooba969(m): 9:33pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
MissJoy29: Amarabae is only defending her corner , if you know what I mean....she's a n_rse, I guess. 18 Likes |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Nobody: 9:33pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
![]() from my experience, private doctors and nurses are the worse, especially those in the average hospitals. very cruel and unsympathetic 17 Likes |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by NobodyKnows(m): 9:33pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae:. 57 Likes
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by eleojo23: 9:34pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Actually, doctors need to tell the patients what they are suffering from and the possible causes of their sickness so that they can avoid those causes in the future if possible. In fact, telling the patient about his disease will ensure proper compliance with treatment plans/recommendations. And the attitude thing is a major problem. There are still good ones though But one thing doctors must realise is that every patient that comes to them is not just an inferior human being just because they are sick. Those patients are also professionals in their own field and should be treated with some respect. No one exists in isolation. We all form part of the society and each individual no matter his field, is needed to keep the society functioning. 120 Likes 12 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by tensazangetsu20(m): 9:34pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Confine abusing them ![]() ![]() 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by eleojo23: 9:34pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
What you see in the hospital is a typical representation of the failed Nigerian system. These same doctors behave well in other countries. 61 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by murphyibiam15(m): 9:35pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
crap...every sector is guilty from bankers to road side sellers 10 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by NobodyKnows(m): 9:35pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae:.. 33 Likes
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by ednut1(m): 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
But when they go abroad dem go nice . I remember my encounter with a 9ja doc in birmingham. Nigeria is a zoo 50 Likes |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Baroba(m): 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
sirBLUNT: The funny thing is you don't see them displaying this kind of arrogance when they travel out, I know a Doctor who told me in Nigeria he can experiment, walk someone out of his clinic but his hands are tied in Europe.. It only takes one of these English no nonsense Nurses to get them stuck off it they try that nonsense here.. Na straight reporting one time, before you know it you are facing the GMC.. 53 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by emeka2847: 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Cmanforall: 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
I will give you detailed response soon. I sympathize with some of your experiences MissJoy29:It's unfortunate that you had some bad experiences with your encounter with some doctors. It is sad to see the deplorable state of the health care system in Nigeria, and yet nothing is done. Budget allocation to health is approximately 7%, against the Abuja declaration to fund healthcare with 15% of annual budget. I am not justifying the poor communication of some doctors, but just giving this for a general view on the healthcare system. Back to OP, it is good you acknowledged some good encounters with doctors. There's no problem with any doctor asking you questions and listening to make a diagnosis, however one should also be free to express himself even outside the questions posed by the doctor. It would be doubtful to believe any doctor would tell a patient to SHUT UP! while he/she's explaining her symptoms. I am not defending any 'arrogant' or 'boastful' doctor, perhaps it is individualistic, and not professional, and shouldn't be! OP, from your story, I can imagine you have been mostly seeking tertiary healthcare services (teaching hospitals); and the few private hospitals you visited, might as well be run by one of the specialists in the teaching hospitals. OP, you will agree that the conditions in teaching hospitals are different from private clinics, in terms of patients load, care, etc. A doctor should not rush you out of her clinic despite the long waiting queue, which by the way, you witnessed. Although some people will say they are stressed and worn out, which should also be put into consideration since they are human. It will be nice if patients (some highly-placed/their relatives/journalists etc) also raise these issues for the MD, or whoever that is incharge of recruiting to increase the number of working staff ( nurses etc inclusive). Those guys in teaching hospitals are being overworked. Nigeria falls below the WHO critical line for doctors, nurses and midwives. Simply put, the burden on the healthcare professionals is increasing especially with their massive exodus abroad. MissJoy29: 14 Likes 1 Share |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by SEONaijaExpert: 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae:I'm sorry to say, you're not making sense. Read the post again carefully 46 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by NobodyKnows(m): 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: 22 Likes
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by udemzyudex(m): 9:36pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: Read the post again, I bet you don't understand what she's talking about. 45 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by GrammarNazi1(m): 9:37pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae: ![]() 25 Likes |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by eendy(f): 9:38pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Having gone through your post, it's sad most of what you mentioned up there turns out to be true... The Nigerian system lacks a structure and the medical profession is not left out, it's sad the art of clearking and examining a patient is really dying so patients are at the receiving end. Unfortunately the average Nigerian doctor is arrogant but then there are some you encounter ... You get better even before taking your meds. it's not likely to change anytime soon anyway but then we only home the next generation turns out to be better. mind you am a doctor. 26 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by NobodyKnows(m): 9:38pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
Amarabae:… 21 Likes
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Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by Afam4eva(m): 9:38pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
A lot of Nigerian doctors are so full of themselves. They just want to prescribe drugs or whatever it is, for you without actualy telling you what is wrong you. When you ask, they shut you down like you're asking too many questions. I had a medical problems for years and after moving from Fderal Medical center, LASUTH and a couple of private hospitals, i just decided to heal myself instead. In the government hospitals, it takes a lot of time to really get anything done. I went for consultation, the doctor talked to me rudely and consequently directed me to the Endocrine department and those ones gave me an appointment to come back in 3 months time. I couldn't wait. Reddington and a couple of other high end hospitals were only interested in collecting my money. Just speaking with a doctor for 5 minutes will deduct 30k for your account and they make sure that they tell you to come back for follow up consultation thereby bleeding your account without profering any solution. Other cheaper hospitals only know about Malaria and Typhoid. Infact, they should just change the names of their hospital to "Malaria and Typhoid center" instead of hospital. Even after carrying out a test in Clinix (one of the best dignostic centers), the doctor said i should go and redo the test but this time in a diagnostic center that he owns or co-owns. O boy, no time to waste time. I just decided to do my own research on google based on my symtoms and i'm getting better. 68 Likes 11 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by chigoizie7(m): 9:38pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
oga u are not alone . Nigerian doctors are the most useless set of people after the law enforcement agents and the politicians. IN a General hospital, a patient was operated on, CS brought back to the ward, after some time, she started experiencing pains, severe pains, she called the doctor, it took the useless thing ages to appear, and when she did, on asking her patient what the matter was, her phone rang, she picked it right before her patient, was on call for minutes, laughing like a slowpoke while speaking to whoever it is, realizing that she was shouting while laughing, she left the ward to do her gisting while her patient who was in pains was waiting to tell her what she wanted to tell her, to my surprised she left after the call, only to return hours later to ask, eehn, madam, what type ofmpains did u say u were experiencing? In that same hospital, out of their carelessness, she lost the baby, because another fool of a doctor wasn't patient enough to read what the chief cunsultant wrote. I have had so many encounters with Nigerian doctors that I had to out of annoance shouted at a doctor and told him why they are so useless to the society at large, later called me to ask why I felt that way, I told him my many encounters with so many of them, and he didn't deny it, only telling me it is just few and not all. The reason is because no body is regulating that profession, how can a doctor be working in a gov't hospital, where he or she is paid and at the same time running a private hospital? U have morning shift in a teaching hospital, then u also have patients whom u must see in the morning , examine them and see how they are. Or someone brought an accident patient into your private hospital, But u were at the public hospital doing another job, is that not insane? Then u are called that u have a patient, u will abandon those at the public hospital for ur private, and then a patient is brought to u to take care of at the public hospital, how is that taken care of? And then , those in authority, will turn a blind eye to it, because all of them are guilty of same thing. The Nigerian medical authorities knew about all these, but they will keep their mouths shut. 56 Likes 8 Shares |
Re: My Thoughts About Nigeria Medical Doctors. by nelronaldo(m): 9:39pm On Aug 31, 2018 |
A consultation with the doctor is not the time to tell your life story. Sometimes a doctor will ask a patient a simple question and he or she starts by telling an irrelevant story that happened decades ago. Many of these stories can be misleading and thats why the doctor asks specific questions. The aim of these questions is for proper diagnosis. I agree doctors should be patient enough to listen to and counsel their patients and i think they do when neccessary. 21 Likes 3 Shares |
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