MRTB PRESS RELEASE
18.11.2015 14:10:35 | MRTB IT Unit, Tolu Ajiboye
PRESS RELEASE
BY AKANLE OLUFUNKE T (MRS)
REGISTRAR/CEO
MEDICAL REHABILITATION THERAPISTS (REG) BOARD
MRTB’S VERDICT ON POSSESION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENCE BEFORE NYSC
The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria (MRTB), established by Decree 38 of 1988/Acts M9 LFN 2004, for the regulation and control of training and practice of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathic Medicine in the Health Sector in Nigeria, wishes to bring to the notice of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners/Employers and the General Public that all Medical Rehabilitation Graduates (Physiotherapists, Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists and other Medical Rehabilitation professionals) that are going for the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme must henceforth possess a copy of the PROFESSIONAL LICENCE from the Board before proceeding for the Youth Service.This is because, it has come to the notice of the Board that;
1. Some have not undergone the compulsory 12 calendar month internship programme which is a continuation of their training programme before being fully registered with the Board. The initial license given to the inductees after induction is the PROVISIONAL PROFESSIONAL LICENCE which covers them for the 12months internship programme. Thereafter, they are expected to proceed to the Board for full registration before proceeding for the National Youth Service Programme.
The FULL PROFESSIONAL LICENCE is required for them to practice during the one year youth service corp programme.
We are soliciting for the full cooperation of the NYSC authorities to ensure that Corp members present their FULL PROFESSIONAL LICENCE before they are deployed to places of primary assignment.
2. Some did not complete the 12 month internship programmes as required.
3. It has also come to the knowledge of the Board (MRTB) that some physiologists and exercise instructors, amongst others, have been parading themselves wrongly as physiotherapists during the youth service programme. We hereby clarify that all such are not licenced to practice the profession and should not be regarded as physiotherapists.
Anyone caught wrongly parading himself as a physiotherapist, Occupational therapist, speech therapist or any other Medical Rehabilitation professional shall be made to face the wrath of the law
Any Medical Rehabilitation Graduate who proceeds for service without a Valid PROFESSIONAL LICENCE would be deemed UNQUALIFIED and as such regarded as a QUACK.
The NYSC and the general public are hereby advised to please ensure strict adherence to this and take actions where necessary.
BUSINESS UNUSUAL
May I take advantage of this medium to reiterate the Board’s intolerance for the issue of QUAKERY that is filtering into the Medical Rehabilitation professions. Please be warned, that it will NO LONGER BE BUSINESS AS USUAL for the TRADOMEDICAL centres who erroneously parade themselves as PHYSIOTHERAPY clinics, thus misinforming and misleading the unsuspecting and innocent public. Any TRADOMEDICAL centre caught in this act will definitely be made to face the wrath of the Law.
I wish to also address clinics who offer PHYSIOTHERAPY services, stating emphatically that it will no longer be business as usual for those of them who have been practicing without proper accreditation. There are standards and procedures for accrediting such clinics, therefore whoever is caught will not only be made to face the law, but as well have the name of the clinic published in the National dailies.
Furthermore, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS who are employees of such clinics should desist from practicing at these places and ensure to contact the MRTB for proper accreditation or be held liable for withholding such information. Please also be informed that a comprehensive list of all licensed medical rehabilitation therapist professionals and accredited clinics will be published by March, 2016.
Finally, all Medical Rehabilitation professionals practicing without an up-to-date PROFESSIONAL PRACTICING LICENCE, will be regarded as QUACKS. The public is hereby advised to give considerations to these warnings and ensure that medical rehabilitation services are sought only from accredited clinics and licensed professionals.