The Nigerian Medical Association has called on doctors to take the lead in tackling quackery and unethical practices in Nigeria’s health sector, saying efforts to protect patients must begin with upholding high standards within the medical profession.

NMA President, Prof. Afekhide Omoti, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday at the association’s First Ordinary National Executive Council meeting of its 2026 National Officers’ Committee.

The meeting, which brought together medical practitioners, government representatives and other stakeholders, was themed, “Transforming Healthcare Practice in Nigeria: Building Trust, Accountability and Collaborative Excellence.”

Omoti said quackery remained a serious threat to patient safety and the credibility of Nigeria’s healthcare system, but cautioned that the profession must also address misconduct among qualified practitioners.

He stressed that doctors could not effectively confront external threats to healthcare delivery while neglecting ethical standards within their own ranks.

According to him, Nigeria’s healthcare sector is facing mounting pressures from technological changes, evolving disease patterns, rising patient expectations, inadequate manpower, migration of health professionals and growing concerns over patient safety.

The NMA president said restoring public confidence would require more than efforts to eliminate unqualified practitioners, noting that accountability, professionalism, collaboration and trust were equally important.

He said maintaining high ethical standards among medical practitioners would strengthen the profession’s credibility and improve the quality of care available to patients.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Emeka Ayogu, said the emphasis on professional standards and teamwork was essential to improving patient safety and strengthening public confidence in the healthcare system.

Ayogu noted that standards determine how healthcare professionals should practise, while teamwork ensures that practitioners work collectively to achieve better outcomes for patients.

Also speaking, Chairman of the NMA Federal Capital Territory branch, Dr George Ebong, described the association as more than a professional organisation, saying its members were bound by a commitment to service and humanity.

Ebong pledged the support of the FCT branch to the national leadership under Omoti, particularly in promoting doctors’ welfare and professional excellence.

The NEC meeting is also expected to provide a platform for the association to deliberate on doctors’ welfare, professional development, healthcare policies and the future direction of medical practice in Nigeria.

The NMA’s renewed focus on professional ethics comes amid persistent concerns over the activities of unqualified practitioners and other factors affecting the quality and safety of healthcare delivery.

The association maintained that stronger regulation and enforcement were necessary to curb quackery, but emphasised that doctors must equally uphold accountability, ethical conduct and patient-centred care within the formal healthcare system.