Doctoring as business: a study of entrepreneurial medicine in Nigeria

Abstract

Medicine is often regarded as a philanthropic science in the service of humanity. Rather than universalistic humanitarian service (à la Hippocrates), this study of private practice illustrates that medicine has been commoditised and is now a lucrative business much like the sale of beer and other commodities. This growing medical enterprise is explained against the backdrop of the wider dynamics of the Nigerian political economy. The implications of this growing privatisation and commercialisation, of which the doctoring business is a part, are examined. It is concluded that it is only a question of time before entrepreneurial medicine completely eclipses the beleaguered public medical system.