Laboratory scientists decry high cost of medical analysis at UBTH

The association of medical laboratory scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has expressed worries over high cost of laboratory analysis by University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), which it said is the highest paid by patients in the country.

AMLSN chairman, UBTH Chapter Olumoye M. Abdulazeez, and secretary, Ogbeifun M. Osawaru, in a news briefing yesterday in Benin city, disclosed that the ills of such actions by UBTH management has incurred more burden on patients even as they [the patients] are been deprived quality services as a result of poor functional equipment and no chemicals to engaged in laboratory analysis.

The association noted that while positive steps are been taken to discuss with management with a view to ameliorate the situation, rather the authority has further bite harder on its practitioners in its failure to implement the 2001 scheme of service and 2014 enhance entry point for medical laboratory scientists.

They also decried what it termed, under staffing, blatant abused of court orders, shortage of manpower, insufficient working materials and harsh working conditions being melted on its practitioners by authority of UBTH.
“While we are aware of the huge cost being charged by UBTH as the highest payable in the country for laboratory analysis, we are equally baffled by the way and manner the authority has deliberately decided to make life and the working conditions of AMLSN and its members unbearable since management has decline payment of our arrears, promotion and re-grading of our members.”

“Consequently, the association and her members has embarked on industrial action of Work-to-rule and hereby informed the general public that the authenticity of result of any laboratory investigation not done by us while the strike last cannot be guaranteed,” they maintained.