A Canada-based Nigerian doctor Arinze Onwumelu has stirred reactions online after alleging that some Nigerian medical practitioners in Canada have turned into what he described as “medical agberos,” accusing them of aggressively competing for patients.
The doctor made the claim in a video shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday, where he lamented what he described as unhealthy rivalry among healthcare professionals.
Drawing a comparison with transport touts commonly found at motor parks in Nigeria, he said doctors now “drag” patients from one another in a manner similar to how touts lure passengers into boarding their vehicles.
“This Canada where we are, Nigerian doctors have turned to medical agberos,” he said.
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Explaining his analogy, the doctor referenced the activities of transport touts at major bus terminals, where passengers are persuaded to abandon one vehicle for another with promises of cheaper fares and faster journeys.
“Now we have doctors that do that here. They drag patients like there is no tomorrow. It has gotten to the stage that they kill themselves for patients,” he said.
The doctor further expressed concern over what he described as growing competition between older and younger practitioners, questioning why senior doctors would compete with younger colleagues for patients.
“I don’t see any reason why a 70-year-old man would be dragging patients with a small boy. I don’t see any reason why a practice owner wouldn’t release a patient for a small boy,” he added.
According to him, the situation could have long-term consequences for the medical community if not addressed.
“But I have news for you, this city will be scattered in five years,” he warned.
Describing the trend as embarrassing for the profession, the doctor said the conduct of some practitioners was damaging the image of doctors within the community.
“This is disgraceful for our professionals as doctors. We’ve now become medical agberos and we would be the ones to damage this city,” he said.
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