Medical lab scientists fault minister on interference

Stakeholders in the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) have asked President Bola Tinubu to halt the minister’s interference in the functions of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in conjunction with the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology issued a letter that restricts the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) from regulating and setting standards for the practice of Medical Laboratory Science, contrary to the provisions of Act 11(2003) that set up MLSCN as the Regulator of Medical Laboratory Science training, standards, and practice.

It also mandated the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology (FCMLST) to provide diploma courses of instruction, training and research in Medical Laboratory Science, which they said would lead to the proliferation of substandard laboratories and unqualified personnel.

The stakeholders insist that the directive jeopardises the quality of lab personnel training and the possibility of flooding the country with inadequately trained lab scientists. They maintained that it would lead to increasing misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, increased mortality rates and a compromised healthcare system.

The group also claims the development prioritises personal gains as the internship programme will allow non-professionals to obtain MLS licenses after nominal training; undermining both the integrity and efficacy of the practice.

In their petition to President Bola Tinubu, the group urged to take decisive actions in addressing the current challenges facing the MLS profession including an immediate cease of the sale of the graduate internship programme entry forms as well as any actions undermining the MLSCN Act.

They asked for the termination of the “illicit” tenure extension of Dr Sunday Etukudoh, who has spent over 11 years as director and 17 years as Provost/CEO which according to them, goes contrary to a memo from the Head of Service of the Federation directing all substantive directors who have spent over eight years in their post to retire.

They also requested an oversight reinstatement to the group to curb substandard practices to safeguard the quality of healthcare delivery and ensure that the healthcare system is staffed by well-trained and qualified professionals to protect public health as well as enhance the quality of healthcare services in Nigeria.

One of the stakeholders, Adedamola Oyekunle, who wrote in support of the petition noted that the group has made significant progress as a profession in Nigeria with the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) degree standardisation, adding that the integration of the associate and graduate internship programmes would only undermine the efforts and contributions already made by both past and present members of the group.

Another group member, Gift Uduje, pointed out that having multiple tiers within one profession is unacceptable and would only bring about regress and adverse consequences.