The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised concerns over the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) recent decision to elevate the degree titles in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry to “Doctor” status in Nigerian universities.
In an official statement signed by its Executive Council, NARD stated that while it supports the professional growth and welfare of all healthcare workers, the new nomenclature could create confusion among patients, spark interprofessional conflicts, and potentially contribute to quackery in Nigeria’s already overburdened healthcare system.
The NUC’s decision aims to align Nigeria with what it describes as “global best practices,” allowing graduates of Pharmacy (PharmD), Physiotherapy (DPT), and Optometry (OD) programmes to be addressed as “Doctors.”
However, NARD argues that this move lacks structural clarity and does not reflect practices in leading healthcare systems such as those in the UK and Germany, where such titles are reserved for individuals with doctoral-level qualifications or clinical doctorates obtained through postgraduate training.
NARD noted that globally, clinical leadership and diagnosis remain under the purview of licensed medical doctors.
The association warned that the new titles could mislead patients, blur professional boundaries, and disrupt the trust needed for effective teamwork in clinical environments without adequate public education or structural distinctions.
The statement reads in part: “Over the past two decades, agitations by other health worker groups have increasingly focused on competing with medical doctors rather than driving systemic improvements.
Between 2005 and 2025, most strikes by these groups have centred on demands to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to match the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
“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.
“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.
“While the NUC cites ‘global best practices,’ countries like the UK and Germany do not grant the ‘Doctor’ title to pharmacists or physiotherapists after undergraduate training, except through a PhD. These systems emphasise clear clinical boundaries and robust governance.
“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. We respectfully urge the NUC to reconsider this change and instead pursue policies that strengthen collaboration, clarity, and excellence in healthcare,” the statement added.
