MDPA (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026: A stumbling block for professional autonomy in healthcare disciplines?

In the last few weeks, there has been controversy trailing the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, as various healthcare professionals in Nigeria have kicked against it, giving various reasons including the argument that it poses a threat to the autonomy and integrity of the healthcare system as well as promoting financial colonization. In this report, ADEOLA OJO brings all sides of the argument on why the bill should not be allowed to scale through because of potential to create jurisdictional conflicts and undermine professional autonomy across multiple healthcare disciplines.

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, popularly known as MDPA Amendment Bill, is a new bill currently before the National Assembly. It was introduced to the National Assembly by the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

The bill seeks to repeal the previous Medical and Dental Practitioners Act of 1988 and establish the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for the regulation and control of medical and dental professions in Nigeria.

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 is designed to modernize and centralize medical and dental regulation in Nigeria. However, its rudiments exclusive MDCN authority, broad medical practice definitions, and financial provisions—have sparked significant opposition from allied health professionals who fear loss of autonomy, regulatory conflicts, and financial exploitation. Stakeholders advocate for broader consultations and revisions to ensure balanced reforms that respect the roles of all healthcare professions.

However, since its introduction, it has generated a lot of controversies with many stakeholders describing it as a contentious legislative proposal which has made it to face stiff opposition.

Issues raised are diverse; the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria say it is a targeted assault on their profession and a violation of the right to a fair hearing, arguing that the bill undermines professional autonomy and self-regulation, which is essential for the governance of healthcare.

Also, there were issues raised on financial practices as some accuse the Bill of promoting “extortion as regulation” by mandating that 70 percent of practicing fees be shared with the Nigerian Medical Association, which is seen as a financial colonisation of radiographers.

Health workers, including radiographers, nurses, and pharmacists, have staged protests and demanded reconsideration of the bill, emphasizing the need for inclusive and well-considered regulation to maintain professional standards and patient safety.

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They claim the bill’s passage could have serious implications for the health sector in Nigeria, leading to a loss of professional autonomy and quality of care.

According to stakeholders, the concerns raised highlight the potential negative implications of the bill if passed in its current form, as it could undermine the integrity of the Nigerian healthcare system and the professional autonomy of healthcare professionals.

Key Provisions of MDCA Amendment

The amendment of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 has a lot of key provisions which includes the following:

Expansion of MDCN Authority: The bill grants the MDCN exclusive regulatory authority over medical and dental practice in Nigeria. This is expressly stated in Section 8(1), giving it responsibility “to the exclusion of any other person or body”. This provision effectively centralizes oversight, potentially overriding existing statutory bodies such as the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB) and the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN).

Broad Definition of Medical Practice: The bill adopts an expansive definition of medical practice, covering laboratory services, genetic testing, device-based therapies, and digital health technologies, including telemedicine and AI-assisted therapies. This could extend MDCN oversight into areas traditionally managed by other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapy and radiography.

Financial Provisions: The bill mandates that 70% of practising fees collected from certain allied health professionals be shared with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), raising concerns about financial control and potential diversion of funds from non-medical professions.

Concerns

Following the introduction, stakeholders have raised diverse concerns which include:

Professional Autonomy: Allied health professionals, including radiographers and physiotherapists, argue that the bill undermines professional self-regulation by subordinating their statutory boards to the MDCN. Radiographers, for example, warn that the bill could erase their independent professional identity and subject them to oversight by medical doctors lacking technical expertise in their fields.

Impact on digital and technological practices: The bill’s inclusion of digital health, telemedicine, and device-based therapies raises concerns that allied health modalities, such as remote physiotherapy or AI-assisted rehabilitation, could be reclassified as exclusively medical, limiting professional autonomy and innovation.

Erosion of professional boundaries: The bill could absorb multiple healthcare disciplines into a single regulatory framework, undermining long-standing professional distinctions.

Regulatory overlap and conflicts: The sweeping authority granted to the MDCN may create jurisdictional conflicts with existing regulatory bodies, potentially leading to governance ambiguity and disputes over professional mandates. Stakeholder’s fear this could disrupt healthcare delivery and inter-professional collaboration.

Financial centralization: Mandatory fee-sharing with the NMA may create financial dependency and reduce regulatory neutrality for allied health professions.

Industrial action risks: Opposition from professional associations has already led to threats of strikes and industrial action, highlighting the potential for sector-wide disruption if the bill is enacted without amendments.

There are ongoing protests and discussions which reflect the public’s concern amid calls for careful consideration of any legislative changes affecting healthcare professionals.

What professionals say:

Radiographers reject bill

The Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), warned against what it described as a legislative attempt to erode the profession of radiography and transfer its statutory responsibilities. ARN argues that the bill is not a mere reform but a calculated attempt to deregister the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) and subjugate the profession to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The association has described the bill as a “legislative assault” designed to dismantle the RRBN and has raised alarms over “conceptual theft” in redefining radiography. It also criticized provisions that require 70% of practicing fees to be shared with the Nigerian Medical Association, which they view as a financial colonisation scheme. The ARN’s stance reflects a broader concern within the healthcare sector about the potential impact of such legislation on professional autonomy and the integrity of the healthcare system.

ARN reject it as an attempt to erase their independent profession after 50+ years. Speaking for the association, its President, Dr Musa Dembele, during a press conference in Kano, said, “The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (HB 2695) is not a reform but a targeted, calculated, and existential assault on the profession of radiography.”

He also described the bill as an attempt to introduce a “jurisdictional override” intended to dismantle the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria.

Dembele pointed to Section 8(1) of the bill, which grants the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria exclusive authority, describing it as “a legislative nuclear weapon” that strips the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria of its mandate.

NSP ask NASS to suspend Bill

The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and other stakeholders, has called on the National Assembly to suspend further legislative action on the proposed Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (HB 2695), citing concerns over regulatory overlap and potential disruption within the healthcare sector.

It stressed that suspending the legislative process would allow for broader stakeholder engagement, inclusive consultations, and the development of balanced reforms that protect all healthcare professions.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Oyinlola Odusanya, on Wednesday in Abuja, the society expressed deep reservations about the bill, warning that some of its provisions could undermine existing statutory bodies and create jurisdictional conflicts.

Central to its concern is a provision in Section 8(1) of the 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 organisation described this as a sweeping clause that could override the authority of other regulators, including the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB), which is responsible for physiotherapy and other rehabilitation professions.

The society noted that such a provision effectively grants the MDCN overarching authority across multiple healthcare domains, raising the risk of conflict with existing laws and established professional mandates.

It also raised concerns over the bill’s expansion into digital health and telemedicine, warning that it could extend into areas such as remote physiotherapy consultations, digital rehabilitation platforms, and AI-assisted therapies without clear regulatory boundaries.

According to the NSP, provisions empowering the MDCN to regulate technologies such as ultrasound, laser therapies, and radiofrequency-based devices may “risk reclassifying physiotherapy modalities as exclusively medical,” thereby undermining professional autonomy. It warned that the bill could undermine existing statutory bodies and create jurisdictional conflicts.

It threatens the independence of other medical professionals – JOHESU

Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), also protested against the bill, claiming it threatens the independence of other medical professionals and gives undue control to medical doctors. They emphasize the importance of professional autonomy and patient care.

MDCN’s stance

The MDCN believes in centralizing regulation of all diagnostic/medical imaging under one doctor-led body for uniform standards, quality and patient safety; treating radiography as part of core medical practice rather than a standalone allied field.

These views highlight the ongoing debate and the concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding the implications of the bill on the healthcare profession in Nigeria. It is said that the bill’s passage could have significant implications for the regulation and practice of medical and dental professions in the country.