Medical lab scientists advocate standards, regulation in healthcare
The three-day 60th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, has ended in Umuahia, with a call to the Federal Ministry of Health to approve the re-commencement of inspection and monitoring activities immediately.
This was even as the National Assembly, through the Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, reaffirmed legislative commitment to the growth and development of medical laboratory services in Nigeria.
In a communique issued at the weekend on the conference with the theme ‘Current Innovations in Medical Laboratory Services: Navigating Global, Regional and Local Healthcare Realities,’ and signed by the National President, Dr. Uche Odionyenma, the National Secretary, Abdulsalam Yakubu, and the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Sub-committee, Adeleke Olaoluwa, the laboratory scientists requested for the re-commencement of “inspection and monitoring of quality medical laboratories in the country,” as well as the mandatory inspection of all public and private medical laboratories by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, which they said is essential to ensure the quality of diagnostic services.
They also called for the empowerment of the Advisory Committee on External Quality Assessment, support for the Laboratory Technical Working Group, and the urgent need for the establishment of a Department of Medical Laboratory Services in the Federal Ministry of Health, as recommended by the Nigerian National Medical Laboratory Policy of 2007, noting that this will enhance implementation of the 2023 goals of the laboratory scientists.
They reviewed the challenges posed to public health by the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, adding “The conference strongly condemned the leadership of Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, which has remained unchanged since 2008 (over 16 years), contrary to extant public service rules,” and called for the immediate upgrade of FCMLST to a National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science via its enabling law to focus on advanced professional education, research, and innovation.”
The communiqué added, “The current programs and structure of FCMLST fail to align with global best practices, compromising the quality of graduates and medical laboratory services” and disapproved an alleged illegal gathering organized by “a few disgruntled members held from 13th to 15th November 2024 at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri, Imo State” and condemned the resolutions of the gathering, reaffirming their baselessness and divisiveness.
AMLSN restated its commitment to unity, professionalism, and adherence to lawful practices within the profession and its commitment to addressing brain drain and manpower challenges and strongly advocated for the national accreditation and quality improvement of medical laboratory services in all tertiary health institutions to reduce capital flight associated with medical tourism by Nigerians, accredited public facilities provide quality medical laboratory services and Nigeria needs increased numbers of accredited public medical laboratories.
They recommended centralized internship placement, improved remuneration and conditions, and strengthening the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria’s regulatory role, while resolving the strengthening of Medical Laboratory Services, empowering MLSCN as the sole regulatory authority for medical laboratory science in Nigeria, upgrading FCMLST to NPCMLS, accompanied by an immediate change in its leadership, improving infrastructure and standards, modernizing laboratory infrastructure in public institutions to meet ISO 15189:2022 standards, review and restructure of outdated training programs to produce globally competitive professionals and to address medical laboratory services manpower challenge. Related News
They further urged for the “issuance of a directive to the National Council on Health for the employment of more medical laboratory scientists to run functional primary healthcare centre laboratories in all 774 council areas.
This measure, they averred will increase access to quality diagnostic services and strengthen public health outreach, establishment of a centralized internship placement system to ensure standardized training for medical laboratory science graduates and seamless integration into the workforce, improve remuneration and working conditions to retain skilled professionals, expansion of postgraduate and fellowship opportunities for career development, and employment of more medical laboratory scientists to strengthen all levels of healthcare (primary, secondary and tertiary) and public health outreach.”
Earlier, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, represented by the federal commissioner representing Abia at the National Population Commission, Trumps Emma Eke, assured that the National Assembly will prioritize bills and policies aimed at strengthening medical laboratory services and addressing gaps in regulation, infrastructure, and professional training.
Kaley said that the legislative support will be provided to empower the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria as the sole regulator and to upgrade the FCMLST to an NPCMLS, assuring further that the legislature is committed to improving healthcare budgets to modernize infrastructure and promote innovation in medical laboratory services for Nigerians.
In his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Prof. Madu Ebibisi Ofor Iwe, emphasized the importance of innovation in diagnostics and healthcare delivery, stating that innovation in medical practice is essential for improving healthcare outcomes and ensuring better health and well-being.
Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to healthcare reforms, the conference noted the rising inflation that has continued to impact healthcare affordability and delivery, adding that persistent insecurity disrupts healthcare access and workforce safety, and requires urgent governmental intervention.
Declaring open the conference which was chaired by Prof. D.E. Agbonlahor, the state governor, Alex Otti, represented by his Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, through the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ifeyinwa Blossom Kalu, said his administration places priority on health, hence his various transformative projects in the sector through budgetary appropriation and infrastructure upgrade.