An appeal on medical lab science

SIR: Admission into the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programme in Nigerian universities has been stopped or suspended by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Indeed, JAMB examinations were conducted and the course wasn’t listed.

My investigation revealed that the issue revolves around: • Perceived inequality and unhealthy rivalry between the NUC and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). •

A recommendation of the MLSCN to start the Doctor of MLS programme against the backdrop of an alleged claim by the Secretary/Registrar of the MLSC that the NUC and MLSCN are both regulatory bodies, and •The move by MLSCN to have the department of MLS in some universities upgraded to faculties. For one, these issues are not serious enough to warrant the suspension of admission into the programme.

I find it difficult to understand the decision ridiculous and counter-productive to government’s quest to produce high calibre healthcare professionals for the nation.

Besides, this action of NUC has put in jeopardy the ambition of young men and women who wish to have a career in medical laboratory science. Some private universities are surely going to be short-changed by this action.

Let us examine the issues critically and find a way out. The issue of DMLS, as initiated by MLSCN, would require the approval of the NUC for take-off.

The regulator has the power to grant the request or otherwise and disobedience sure attracts sanction. Again, why should a suggestion/recommendation for a faculty be a strong reason to suspend a programme that had been accredited and approved by same NUC? I hereby appeal, not just as a senior member of the profession, but also as a concerned Nigerian who has the interest of the young men and women at heart for the regulatory authority to have a rethink.