GOMEP-NG Raises Alarm Over ‘Google Prescription’ by Young Doctors in Nigerian Hospitals

When a patient walks into a hospital, trust is placed in the hands of the doctor. But what happens when online searches begin to influence medical decisions? GOMEP-NG has raised fresh concerns over what it calls a growing perception of “Google prescription” among some young doctors in Nigeria, urging stronger medical training, clinical supervision and professional standards.

GOMEP-NG’s “Google prescription” concern refers to the perceived reliance by some young doctors on Google and other online platforms for information about drugs and treatments. The Guild says technology should support, not replace, medical knowledge, clinical judgment, proper training and professional supervision.

ABUJA — The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has commended the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmed, for efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education sector, while raising concerns over the quality of professional training and its potential implications for the nation’s healthcare system.

The Guild stressed that universities and other institutions responsible for training medical professionals must maintain the highest standards, warning that gaps in education, clinical training and professional supervision could ultimately put patients at risk.

GOMEP-NG expressed particular concern over what it described as a growing perception that some young doctors may be increasingly relying on Google and other online platforms when seeking information about drugs, treatments and medical conditions before prescribing medication to patients.

The Guild, however, stressed that digital technology should serve as a support tool for medical professionals, not a substitute for medical knowledge, clinical judgment, established medical guidelines and proper supervision.

It said patients who seek medical care should have confidence that diagnoses and prescriptions are founded on sound professional knowledge, evidence-based practice and appropriate clinical assessment.

According to the Guild, the emergence of what it described as the “Gen Z doctor” generation presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Nigeria’s healthcare system.

While young medical professionals are generally technologically savvy and have access to an unprecedented volume of information, GOMEP-NG said such technological familiarity must be matched with rigorous medical education, practical clinical experience and effective professional mentorship.

The Guild therefore called for closer scrutiny of medical education, hospital-based training and professional supervision, particularly for newly qualified doctors.

It urged relevant regulatory authorities, medical institutions and healthcare managers to ensure that graduates entering the health system possess the competence, practical skills and professional judgment required to make safe and informed clinical decisions.

GOMEP-NG also commended the Minister of State for Education for her responsibilities in shaping the future of Nigeria’s education system, noting that the quality of the country’s universities and professional institutions has a direct bearing on the calibre of personnel produced for hospitals, laboratories, schools and other critical sectors.

The National President of GOMEP-NG, Comr. Akpovoke Otiti, said the Guild would continue to draw attention to issues affecting Nigerians while advocating stronger educational standards, professional competence and accountability.

Otiti stressed that technology should strengthen, rather than undermine, the quality of services delivered to Nigerians, particularly in sectors where professional decisions can directly affect human lives.

He called for continuous investment in professional training and institutional oversight, urging stakeholders to ensure that technological advancement complements—not replaces—expertise and sound professional judgment.