By Michael Oche
The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) has urged the National Assembly to suspend further consideration of the proposed Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (HB 2695), warning that some of its provisions could disrupt regulatory balance in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Society said although the bill aims to modernise medical and dental practice, it contains clauses that may conflict with existing laws and the mandates of other professional bodies.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Oyinlola Felix Odusanya, the NSP called for wider consultation with stakeholders to ensure inclusive health sector reforms.
Odusanya expressed concern over some provisions in the MDCN bill which he said raise significant legal, professional, and policy concerns particularly regarding jurisdictional overlap and regulatory encroachment into areas already governed by other statutory bodies, including the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB).
Specifically, he pointed to a provision on Section 8(1) of the proposed Bill which states that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) shall have responsibility “to the exclusion of any other person or body.”
The Society said, “This clause effectively grants overarching authority across multiple healthcare domains, even where other legally established regulatory bodies exist.”
It added that such a provision could undermine the statutory role of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB), which regulates physiotherapy and other rehabilitation professions.
The NSP also raised concerns about the bill’s expansion into digital health and telemedicine, noting that it could create uncertainty in areas such as telerehabilitation and technology-driven care.
“Without clear boundaries, this creates ambiguity over regulatory authority in digital rehabilitation services, including remote physiotherapy consultations and AI-assisted technologies,” the statement said.
It further warned that the inclusion of physiotherapy tools such as ultrasound, laser therapies, and radiofrequency devices under MDCN regulation risks reclassifying them as exclusively medical, thereby affecting professional autonomy.
The Society cautioned that the bill adopts an expansive definition of medical practice that could absorb multiple healthcare disciplines such as clinical laboratory practice, Genetic testing and personalized medicine, Assisted reproductive technologies and Aesthetic and device-based therapies.
“Additionally, Section 47 defines fields such as radiology and pathology as branches of medicine, despite their regulation by independent statutory bodies.
“This approach risks eroding established professional boundaries and undermining interdisciplinary collaboration critical to patient care,” it said.
The NSP also faulted the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (HB 2703), describing it as inadequate in strengthening the regulatory framework for rehabilitation practice.
“The proposed restructuring of the board, including the replacement of core professionals with lay members, raises serious concerns about representation and governance,” it added.
The NSP, said it has, alongside the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and other stakeholders, called for both bills to be stepped down pending broader consultation.
It said this is necessary to prevent regulatory conflicts, protect the autonomy of healthcare professions, ensure balanced and inclusive healthcare legislation and promote patient safety through clearly defined scopes of practice.
“We urge the National Assembly to halt further legislative action on the bills in their current forms to allow for comprehensive stakeholder engagement,” the statement noted.
It emphasised that “healthcare delivery in Nigeria depends on collaboration, not regulatory dominance,” adding that it remains committed to protecting professional integrity and promoting patient-centred care through inclusive reforms.
