More than half the foreign-trained doctors and dentists failed examinations to secure practice licence of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria this year.

A total 334 doctors and seven dentists who graduated from medical colleges outside Nigeria sat for the assessment this year.

Only 160 doctors and four dentists passed — a 40% success rate.

At their induction at MDCN headquarters, health minister Isaac Adewole called the pass rate “worrisome”.

“Parents, please ask questions before you send your ward to overseas institutions,” he warned.

“The fact it [the institution] is foreign does not make it good or excellent. Shine your eyes before you spend your hard-earned dollars sending your child to a school that’s not good.”

Acting MDCN registrar Tajudeen Sanusi called the council examination “a check of knowledge and skills” to ensure that the standards of medical training Nigerian students get abroad measure up to standards in Nigeria.

Passing the exam determines eligibility of new practitioners to be provisionally registered by the council. (Daily Trust)