High Number Of Foreign-Trained Doctors Fail MDCN Qualifying Exam

In a recent examination organized by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on November 22 and 23, 2023, 433 out of 836 foreign-trained medical graduates did not pass the qualifying exam.

The Computer Based Test (CBT) format, comprising a computer-based test, a picture-based test, and an objective structural clinical examination, took place across four centers in Kano State: BMG Institute of Information Technology, JAMB Professional Test Centre, Kano Cooperative CBT Centre, and Treztech.

Unfortunately, a significant number of candidates, mainly in the CBT section, performed poorly, leading to a pass rate of 403 out of the initially shortlisted 836 candidates.

Each year, numerous Nigerians pursue medical degrees abroad, notably in countries such as Ukraine, Sudan, Cyprus, Egypt, The Caribbean, Russia, Belarus, India, Hungary, Guyana, Niger Republic, and Benin Republic. However, upon completion, these graduates must pass the MDCN assessment to practice in Nigeria.

The MDCN, responsible for regulating Medicine, Dentistry, and Alternative Medicine in the country, conducts this assessment biannually. Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi, the MDCN Registrar, emphasized in a recent interview that this examination aligns with global practices, testing candidates’ ability to apply basic medical sciences and clinical skills in a healthcare setting.