Reps Probe UCTH CMD Over Alleged Rejection of 15 South East Doctors, Call For Prof Ikpeme's Suspension
From Abdul SULE (Abuja) and Bassey BASSEY
The House of Representatives on Thursday moved to investigate the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, over allegations of discriminatory recruitment practices.
The House Called for Prof Ikpeme's immediate suspension by the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure he does not interfere with the investigation to be conducted by the committee on Health Institutions.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rt. Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.
Rt. Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo alleged that Prof. Ikpeme rejected a list of 17 newly graduated medical doctors posted to the institution by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for their mandatory one-year housemanship.
Leading the debate, the Federal Lawmaker expressed concern over reports that the CMD rejected the list specifically because 15 of the 17 doctors were of Igbo extraction.
“It is alarmed that by rejecting a bona fide list sent by the regulatory body on the grounds of tribe and region, Prof. Ikpeme is in dangerous violation of the 1999 Constitution, which seeks to protect citizens from discrimination,” the lawmaker stated.
He further noted that despite interventions from the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Cross River branch, the CMD reportedly remained adamant.
The House expressed worry that such conduct worsens the “brain drain” currently hitting Nigeria’s health sector. Citing data, the lawmaker noted that the country’s licensed doctors have plummeted to approximately 40,000—a far cry from the 300,000 required to meet the nation’s healthcare needs.
The House subsequently resolved to:
Mandate the Committee on Health Institutions to investigate the allegations and report back within four weeks.
Urge the Federal Ministry of Health to suspend Prof. Ikpeme immediately to prevent interference with the ongoing investigation.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, Rt. Hon. Iduma Igariwey described the CMD’s actions as a “terrible contradiction,” noting that Prof. Ikpeme himself was trained outside his home state.
“This man studied at the University of Benin and did his further medical training at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu. How can you benefit from the unity of this country and then reject others based on their tribe?” The Federal Lawmaker queried.
Recall that some.students posted to UCTH their Housemanship were rejected by the CMD alleging that 15 of them were form South East, querying why it should be so
In spite of all entreaties by NMA and MDCN, Prof Ikpeme.refused to clear them, questioning why there was no Cross Riverians on the list.
THE BEAGLE NEWS made several calls, sent text messages and visited the Hospital to get his reaction to no avail.
THE BEAGLE NEWS
