Medical Practitioners (Hansard, 10 November 1948)

§ 59. Mr. Edward Davies
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many doctors there are per head of the population in Nigeria; and what is being done to train Africans for the medical profession.

Mr. Creech Jones
There is one doctor for every 80,000 of the population. Nigerian students are coming to this country in increasing numbers, and there are now over 100 undergoing medical training here. The medical school in Nigeria has turned out 50 registered practitioners. Opportunities for training locally will be substantially increased, and a much larger output of qualified men will be achieved, now that medical teaching is to be taken over by the University College.

§ Mr. Davies
While recognising the improvements which are being made in the revision of salaries, may I ask if the Secretary of State will not recognise that in the field of medical administration the problem is particularly severe and distressing in Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa generally, and whether he will see to it that, at the earliest possible moment, more men are attracted by more reasonable salaries and better conditions?

Mr. Creech Jones
It is not a salary problem. We are doing all we possibly can to train doctors in the overseas territories. At the same time, an enormous contribution is being made by medical schools in this country, and everything possible is being done to enlarge the medical services in all the areas.

§ Mr. Somerville Hastings
Is it proposed that this new university will grant degrees in medicine?

Mr. Creech Jones
Not until the university has established a proper standard. That will take some years. In the meantime London University will be of very great assistance in building up the academic standards of the university.

§ Dr. Segal
Will my right hon. Friend agree that what is a much more urgent need in Nigeria is the training of larger numbers of male nurses and dispensers? Will he not at the same time see that far more substantial provision is made towards meeting this need?

Mr. Creech Jones
Yes. As my hon. Friend knows, that also has received consideration. It is quite a different question, but if my hon. Friend will put down a Question I will answer it. A great deal of new training is going on of nurses and of assistants in the clinics.