marvelling: ok here I go!

I read microbiology and the little I understand about the system operating in nigeria is that b.sc holders are not eligible for any form of clinical practice. license for practice is not given. now the issue with basic medical sciences is not really different as the "professionals" that actually run the show don't want you guys to be licensed. why? I don't know, but I think its time we put pressure on the relevant medical councils to give us chance. how? I don't know, (we should form a coalition, storm their various secretariats and demand to be taken seriously in the scheme of things ).

I was at the medical laboratory science council zonal office in lagos last year and i found out that initially, an internship program for b.sc holders in biochemistry and microbiology was being run by the council, but it was later scrapped and non of the people i asked was able to give a good reason why. [b][/b]WE NEED TO BE LICENSED OR ELSE NOTHING FOR US. datz all

The reason why MLSCN stop licensing Bsc microbiology and biochemistry holders from practicing in the laboratory is because laboratory practices have been modified TO be more professional oriented.

Emmafrancis: I studied human anatomy from unical. I wasted four good years of my life studying a course that has no practical application except academical. No place for us in the hospital (except mortuary section. Which I can't or the forensic museum.)

I have been force to go back for another Bsc. Maybe someday I put my bsc ana to use. but until then

anoda BSC?? Why not get MBBS or BDS?

Emzybrown:

The reason why MLSCN stop licensing Bsc microbiology and biochemistry holders from practicing in the laboratory is because laboratory practices have been modified TO be more professional oriented.

nobody should read these BMS courses again to forestall future frustrations. this is a major reason why I say Nigeria is useless!! nobody is using their brain again. everyone is thinking of chopping oyel money.

Emzybrown:

The reason why MLSCN stop licensing Bsc microbiology and biochemistry holders from practicing in the laboratory is because laboratory practices have been modified TO be more professional oriented.

I'm sorry, but can you please explain what the bolded statement means??

marvelling: ok here I go!

I was at the medical laboratory science council zonal office in lagos last year and i found out that initially, an internship program for b.sc holders in biochemistry and microbiology was being run by the council, but it was later scrapped and non of the people i asked was able to give a good reason why. [b][/b]WE NEED TO BE LICENSED OR ELSE NOTHING FOR US. datz all

It was scrapped and superseded by the BMLS program offered now at Universities as the profession progressed from a technological grade to a scientific one.
The internship programs were diploma courses offered by Schools of Medical Laboratory sciences (usually attached to teaching hospitals). The change was enacted by law (Act 11 of 2003) involving change of the names of the regulatory body then from the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology of Nigeria; whose graduates were called Medical Laboratory Technologists (diploma holders) as against the current nomenclature: Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria who among others, give licence to graduates of Bachelors of Medical Laboratory Sciences, referred to as Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Sorry about your predicament which unfortunately seems like a lack of proper and effect career guidance before and at tertiary institutions, resulting many intelligent young men like you losing their way and ending up in an occupational cul-de sac.
For many, there seems to be no easy way out except taking the longer tortuous route of going back to university and taking the requisite qualifying courses.

I think I am not getting the gist or BMS graduates in Nigeria have a very different orientation/reality on ground.

Even if Naija was a developed country with excellent hospitals and research facilities, it will still be impossible to mop up all the BMS graduates.

I think the real issue is that there are not enough jobs.

Here in the West focus is on transferrable skills: communication, numeracy, good time management, team work, ability to see a project through etc.

These are things you gain from a course irrespective of the actual title.

BMS students work in admin, civil service, labs, further studies, teaching, financial services, drug company reps/sales etc. I have a number of BMS graduate friends working in various ministries and banks.

If there were jobs out there and fresh BMS grads were offered 160k monthly to begin, this thread would not exist.

Acidosis: Most people today find themselves in Physiology/Pharmacology/Anatomy/Medical Biochemistry department after the college of Medicine failed to admit them for MBBS...

I'll always advice such people never to accept para-medical courses.. Its a sure key to frustration except the individual involved is ready to explore other sectors.

Same applies to most courses in the faculty of science.

Who wants to employ a physiologist in a hospital when the Doc is ready and willing to do everything?

Or a Medical Biochemist when the Lab Scientist is available?

Pharmacology on the other hand is completely different from Pharmacy..
A Pharmacist cannot do the work of a Pharmacologist...

But who employs them to practise in Nigeria?

Now that all we do is import drugs from India and then call a Pharmacist to come for packaging and registration.

I think its time for NUC to completely cancel all 'irrelevant' courses to a common Nigeian in Nigeria

!! if u are saying anything concerning biochemistry, have it in mind that biichemistry is every wild course, there is environmental biochemist, medical biochemist, industrial biochemist, pharmaceutical biochemist .. so stop comprising biochemistry with anatomy and physiology. biochemistry is every okay comprise to other ones

Me_Aboki:

It was scrapped and superseded by the BMLS program offered now at Universities as the profession progressed from a technological grade to a scientific one.
The internship programs were diploma courses offered by Schools of Medical Laboratory sciences (usually attached to teaching hospitals). The change was enacted by law (Act 11 of 2003) involving change of the names of the regulatory body then from the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology of Nigeria; whose graduates were called Medical Laboratory Technologists (diploma holders) as against the current nomenclature: Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria who among others, give licence to graduates of Bachelors of Medical Laboratory Sciences, referred to as Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Sorry about your predicament which unfortunately seems like a lack of proper and effect career guidance before and at tertiary institutions, resulting many intelligent young men like you losing their way and ending up in an occupational cul-de sac.
For many, there seems to be no easy way out except taking the longer tortuous route of going back to university and taking the requisite qualifying courses.

But that shouldn't be a reason for eliminating Diploma courses. All that should happen is that the course be changed to a Diploma in medical laboratory sciences, and the MLSCN would supervise these Diploma courses and ensure that they meet the necessary standards.

An example would be scrapping polytechnic engineering courses because you can get engineering degrees from a university.

If there is a need for more Lab med scientists and Universities are not producing enough, then that would be a rational thing to do.

Unfortunately, I think because of the stagnation and lack of funding that we have to health in Nigeria, even though millions of people need healthcare, facilities are limited!!! And no matter how much manpower you have, a kitchen can only fit so many cooks.

henrro: !! if u are saying anything concerning biochemistry, have it in mind that biichemistry is every wild course, there is environmental biochemist, medical biochemist, industrial biochemist, pharmaceutical biochemist .. so stop comprising biochemistry with anatomy and physiology. biochemistry is every okay comprise to other ones

.

Biochemists have lots of roles. Also biochemists tend to have higher entry requirements and many progress to MSc/MPhil/PhD/MBBS.

Please we want Creativity not WIKIPEADITY or GOOGlity..
[quote author=Laalamed]A biomedical scientist (biomedician,
biomedical doctor, medical
scientist , clinical scientist) is a
scientist trained in biology , particularly
in the context of medicine . These
scientists work to gain knowledge on
the main principles of how the
human body works and to find new
ways to cure or treat disease by
developing advanced diagnostic tools
or new therapeutic strategies . The
research of biomedical scientists is
referred to as biomedical research .
Biomedical scientists can have a
particular focus on basic , pre-clinical ,
or translational research . While
biomedical scientists specifically focus
on understanding the human body
and disease, scientists educated in
other fields also contribute greatly to
advancements in medical knowledge,
including biologists, biomedical
engineers, chemists , and physicists.
In the United Kingdom , the term
"biomedical scientist" as related to the
health service has a different meaning
than in other parts of the world,
specifically referring to a class of
healthcare professional that performs
clinical pathology services.
Description
The specific activities of the
biomedical scientist can differ in
various parts of the world and vary
with the level of education. Generally
speaking, biomedical scientists
conduct research in a laboratory
setting, using living organisms as
models to conduct experiments .
These can include cultured human or
animal cells grown outside of the
whole organism, small animals such
as flies , worms , fish , mice , and rats,
or, rarely, larger animals and primates.
Biomedical scientists may also work
directly with human tissue specimens
to perform experiments as well as
participate in clinical research .
Biomedical scientists employ a variety
of techniques in order to carry out
laboratory experiments. These
include:
Molecular and biochemical
techniques
Electrophoresis and blotting
Immunostaining
Chromatography
Mass spectrometry
PCR and sequencing
Microarrays
Imaging technologies
Light , fluorescence , and
electron microscopy
MRI
PET
X-ray
Genetic engineering/modification
Transfection
Viral transduction
Transgenic model organisms
Electrophysiology techniques
Patch clamp
EEG, EKG, ERG
In silico techniques
Bioinformatics
Computational biology
Level of education
Biomedical scientists typically obtain a
terminal academic degree , usually a
doctorate. (PhD, DSc, DPhil, etc.) This
degree is necessary for faculty
positions at academic institutions, as
well as senior scientist positions at
most companies. Some biomedical
scientists also possess a medical
degree (MD , DO , MBBS, etc.) in
addition to an academic degree.
Work environment
Academics
This category includes tenured faculty
positions at universities, colleges, non-
profit research institutes , and
sometimes hospitals . These positions
usually afford more intellectual
freedom and give the researcher
more latitude in the direction and
content of the research. Scientists in
academic settings, in addition to
conducting experiments, will also
attend scientific conferences, compete
for research grant funding, publish
scientific papers , and teach classes.
Industry Industry jobs refer to private
sector jobs at for-profit corporations.
In the case of biomedical scientists,
employment is usually at large
pharmaceutical companies or
biotechnology companies. Positions in
industry tend to pay higher salaries
than those at academic institutions,
but job security compared to tenured
academic faculty is significantly less.
Researchers in industry tend to have
less intellectual freedom in their
research than those in the academic
sector, owing to the ultimate goal of
producing marketable products that
benefit the company.
Non-Traditional Career Paths
In recent years, more biomedical
scientists have pursued careers where
advanced education and experience
in biomedical research is needed
outside of traditional laboratory
research. These areas include patent
law , consulting , public policy, and
science journalism . The primary
reason for growth in these areas is
that in recent years fewer positions
are available in traditional academic
research relative to the number of
seekers; approximately 15-20% of PhD
life scientists will obtain a tenure-track
position or lab-head position in
industry. [1]
United Kingdom
"Biomedical scientist" is the protected
title::..........bla bla

Am a 3rd year physiology student,wat u say is vry right I see no reason y basic medical science students attend d same lecture wit allied medical n clinical student 4rm yr1 to yr 3 but at d end of d year 3 allied n clinical all varnish 2 d hospital den d basic end in d classroom.Y do dey call us medical student wen u dnt av a space in d hospital,d issue of ground is vry important the health sector shuld luk into dis matter......

Uyi Iredia: BMS courses are foundational to medicine and thet fact that it isn't professionally recognized in the health sector is lamentable. BTW my sister, who studies Physiology (a BMS) course HEAVILY LAMENTS the fact that medical doctors lack a solid foundation in physiology (or human anatomy) and their knowledge in this aspect is mostly theoretical.

* * * pause * * *

Let that sink in. A doctor that his little practical knowledge of the human anatomy ! Such a doctor is unfit to be a general practitioner. He can as well be a glorified nurse. Fortunately, some serious-minded medical students know this and read physiology as a course before going for medicine. Some of my sister's classmates are of such a mind. In any case, space should be made for anatomists as researchers and consultants (for well-versed physiologists).

who told u doctors dont know their onions in physiology.
U dont cross to 4th yr without passing the professional exam in basic medical sciences including physiology.
Tell me how u pass dat exam without knowing whats up?

Dr.'Hesjay:
This is what happens when you don't read posts carefully and 'digest' it before making comments...
I clearly stated it that we do the same courses in their 'pre-clinical years'!
So shld BMS graduates suffer because they didnt do medicine,surgery,pharmacology??..
I'd rather you read the post once again!!

just know that, that aspect of ur write up shdnt have featured.

adeaugustus: BMS students/graduates, Let this sink into your head; you have no role in the hospital! Considering that most University Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria don't have a research facility. I don't know why you want to work in the hospital actually, why do you really want to do there?

If you're studying any of the BMS courses, you better be doing so because you want to contribute to the field of medical sciences, it's not about the money, prestige or fame, NO! It's about your desire to contribute to existing knowledge, that leads me to the qualification required to become a real scientist; you can't just earn a 4/5 years degree and start claiming to be a scientist, You're expected to go for a research advanced degree (Msc and Phd). If you don't have the proper orientation about the course you're studying, I'd advice that you consult the internet and make proper research.


If you're looking forward to a "quickie" degree, don't study BMS.

exactly, Nigeria cannot diversify if everybody is eyeing one specialty.
We can be useful in all our respective areas.
Every biochemist here is thinking of health when biochemistry is very diversified. What happened to brewing, food processing, etc.
Some of my BCH friends those days produced malt, thats how it starts.
I think everybody shd go and develop their tents.

Airhix: Thanks Guys ! You have said it all ! I have a bsc in human physiology ! After the program and nysc ! The struggle wasn't easy ! Had to take a dive into Chemistry ! Am happy now ! I have some books and publications to my credit ! Any course outside Medicine,pharmacy,nursing and medical lab sci , I for one wudnt advise any person 2 accept the admission , you can on your own peril ! The physiological and anatomy national associations, who are heading them ; they all have got MBBS , so little ones and those undergraduates studying anatomy, physiology ,medical biochemistry , be very ready ! The journey is very long ! Start a patent medicine store or teaching jobs (biology ) awaits you in private secondary schs ! NUC have a role 2 play ! Re-structure these courses ! Let it be a 5 or 6 yrs course with a straight Msc or scrap it completely ! No medical research institute in Nigeria as of this age ! The ones will see are those with Fed teaching hospitals ! How many researchers are there ! I know of one ! The lassa fever institute with ISTH irrua edo-state ! Basic medicine in nigeria is messed up ! No future , most of our graduates are used as medical sales rep is only a brand name 4 drivers ! They drive all the length and breadth of nigeria delivery drugs 2 pharmaceutical store !

Nigerian Institute of Medical Research is in Lagos. Nigerian Trado medical research center in Lagos. I know there will be others but it still buoys down to what ASUU is talking about. No funding, which makes everything redundant.

The largest grant awarding bodies in the world; NIH and welcome Trust sponsor researches in basic medical science mainly. The grants are available for all to apply, but what happens when you are out of the world of what they are saying. When you can't even store samples appropriately due to power supply or have the digital equipment to carry out the current trend of research. The polygraph used in 1973 to teach our present professors is what is still available and even unserviceable,

the grants from NIH are used to pay Post doc and doctoral students, so you can imagine how massive that fund will be to pay one or two postdoc students about 30,000 us dollars p.a each. That Is Just the maximum amout You can get in Nigeria from TETFUND for research after several fasting and prayers.

A very long way to go.

Osahon7: anoda BSC?? Why not get MBBS or BDS?

it seems you don't know that Medicine is now war, except you get a govt job or a very good private company. Even the govt jobs are noting to talk of welfare wise leading to a massive migration and the so called brain drain in the country. In the UK, next to the Indians are Nigerians in the hospitals as doctors. Same in US and Canada. Even though we still don't have the facilities to grant them a good training here at home.

you and I can imagine if we invest in health and education. We will begin to have foreigners seeking healthcare as is the case of Nigerians running to India now. Foreigners in our schools etc.

I initially do not want to comment on this thread but later realised we may be missing something ,
Firstly ,no one discriminates against physiologists,anatomists,physiotherapists or lab scientists ,and doctors don't do their works .
Physiologists though should have a place in the heal sector as paramedics after undergoing some training in resuscitating patients ,also they can assist in places like ECG,EEG etc
You can't do forensic without studying medicine,coz yes you may know what you see but you can never interpret a result from your findings except if you have a basis in pathology and medicine,and all dis no be moi moi,
For anatomists,I still can't see a future for that course ,it's an unnecessary distraction for prospective undergraduates,most universities in developed country don't offer it except at post-graduate level and tis all about research studies (Naija no de inTerested in research)

the planmaker: . the doctors claim to knw it all .so they dnt need others

sm people use a every little opprtunity to go "gaga" against drs......................y ol d hate?

direct d blame to the rite place bros, no be evry tin be dr fault..............................!!!!! and dnt spoil dis imprtnt thread pls!!

And what do you mean by ''professionally'' oriented?It pisses me up when people don't say things the way they are,simply put;the so called professionals are GREEDY and want to monopolize laboratory practice and Nigeria being a corrupt country it is provided a fertile ground for them to perfect their selfish agenda.I am a Biochemist and i make bold to say that no BMLS graduate of my level can beat me in clinical chemistry.What do they know?Nothing!I dont even envy them because i know that non of them 'll equal my achievements in the nearest future.

Emzybrown:

The reason why MLSCN stop licensing Bsc microbiology and biochemistry holders from practicing in the laboratory is because laboratory practices have been modified TO be more professional oriented.

marvelling:

Your head they there! But i suggest we put pressure on mlscn to certify us for practice. Physiologists can function as histopathologists as far as diagnosis is the aim. Mdcn Will never entertain such plea because of their ego. Any other "professional body" without a charter can never achieve anything or influence events in favor of her members. Our best bet is mlscn, we need to prevail on them to train and license us for practice. #SHIKENA

Physiologists function as histopathologists you say? Believe me the histopathologists under MLS are still puppets in the hands of pathologists. They are yet to gain their own ground let alone accommodate others.

I truly wish these issues be properly addressed in Nigeria

after due analysis, i realized that 60% of laboratory scientists in Nigeria are not holders of BMLS but from other allied courses and yet they have done fine. I can tell you authoritatively that Nigeria society of Microbiology have approached the National Assembly in this regard and NSBMB are equally drafting a similar memo to the National Assembly as we debate this. Our problem in Nigeria is rather than fighting on how to improve a sector, we are busy discussing who is a scientists or not. As a scientist that specialized in chemical Pathology, my quest should be how to improve the field and help my patients and not discussing who is this and that. I wrote a memo recently in this regard to the council as i see no rationale in preventing a medical microbiologist or biochemist from practicing if the council should revisit the associate programme. it will go a long way to eradicate quarks from the system. what the other departments should do is to align with the two bodies i mentioned to push for accreditation or better put push for the Establishment of a similar body if they work together. i don't see any way i or the council will be affected if they are allowed to join. it will even help strengthen the profession as MDCN are beginning to show some compassion on them by employing them into their clinics without being inspected by the council.

Yet another challenge...............

BMS is tailored towards research and teaching however one would need to proceed for Msc at least before one could be considered eligible to conduct a research.
I am a physiologist about completing my Msc programme in one of the Nigerian universities also I ve being a member of the American physiological society and as a member I get advertisement for vacancies all over the world but the problem is that the research we do here in Nigeria is about 100years behind what is happening presently in the field so a Nigerian trained physiologist would find it difficult to compete. Last month, the physiological society held their annual conference in Birmingham, how many Nigerian scientists were able to present a paper there? They were spectators there even before going, a foremost professor of physiology in west africa told me in the company of another student that was in the lab when he visited my school that they are simply going there to watch.
In Nigeria, physiology was started as a course for the purpose of training lecturers that would take over from the foreigners that were handling the course in the university of Ibadan but today it has been turned to a dumping ground for every dick and harry that couldn't secure a place in Medicine. The numbers of those studying physiology in all nigeria universities far outnumbered the vacancies in universities for lecturing positions. I think NUC should stricly limit universities that offer physiology as a degree awarding course in Nigeria and the number of students they should admit and BMS courses should be offered as double honour so that those that cannot afford to further for Msc can settle down for something.
Unemployment in Nigeria is also a threat to the development of the BMS. In the last physiological society of Nigeria held last year in Unical, the executives being mostly Medical doctors tried to come up with a resolution that only MBBS graduates should further for Msc in physiology so if they succeed it will no longer be possible for those that have first degree in physiology to proceed to Msc.
To be successful in this field, you will have to give yourself to rigorous self development and be patient because the truth is that the financial reward may come late or may never come but the joy there is that you are doing what you enjoy doing and you are contributing to the furtherance of knowledge.
Pardon my errors.

ngozievergreen:

just know that, that aspect of ur write up shdnt have featured.

You haven't made any meaningful contribution to this thread. Blabbing is all you've done so far.

BMS is tailored towards research and teaching however one would need to proceed for Msc at least before one could be considered eligible to conduct a research.
I am a physiologist about completing my Msc programme in one of the Nigerian universities also I ve being a member of the American physiological society and as a member I get advertisement for vacancies all over the world but the problem is that the research we do here in Nigeria is about 100years behind what is happening presently in the field so a Nigerian trained physiologist would find it difficult to compete. Last month, the physiological society held their annual conference in Birmingham, how many Nigerian scientists were able to present a paper there? They were spectators there even before going, a foremost professor of physiology in west africa told me in the company of another student that was in the lab when he visited my school that they are simply going there to watch.
In Nigeria, physiology was started as a course for the purpose of training lecturers that would take over from the foreigners that were handling the course in the university of Ibadan but today it has been turned to a dumping ground for every dick and harry that couldn't secure a place in Medicine. The numbers of those studying physiology in all nigeria universities far outnumbered the vacancies in universities for lecturing positions. I think NUC should stricly limit universities that offer physiology as a degree awarding course in Nigeria and the number of students they should admit and BMS courses should be offered as double honour so that those that cannot afford to further for Msc can settle down for something.
Unemployment in Nigeria is also a threat to the development of the BMS. In the last physiological society of Nigeria held last year in Unical, the executives being mostly Medical doctors tried to come up with a resolution that only MBBS graduates should further for Msc in physiology so if they succeed it will no longer be possible for those that have first degree in physiology to proceed to Msc.
To be successful in this field, you will have to give yourself to rigorous self development and be patient because the truth is that the financial reward may come late or may never come but the joy there is that you are doing what you enjoy doing and you are contributing to the furtherance of knowledge.
Pardon my errors.

BMS is tailored towards research and teaching however one would need to proceed for Msc at least before one could be considered eligible to conduct a research.
I am a physiologist about completing my Msc programme in one of the Nigerian universities also I ve being a member of the American physiological society and as a member I get advertisement for vacancies all over the world but the problem is that the research we do here in Nigeria is about 100years behind what is happening presently in the field so a Nigerian trained physiologist would find it difficult to compete. Last month, the physiological society held their annual conference in Birmingham, how many Nigerian scientists were able to present a paper there? They were spectators there even before going, a foremost professor of physiology in west africa told me in the company of another student that was in the lab when he visited my school that they are simply going there to watch.
In Nigeria, physiology was started as a course for the purpose of training lecturers that would take over from the foreigners that were handling the course in the university of Ibadan but today it has been turned to a dumping ground for every dick and harry that couldn't secure a place in Medicine. The numbers of those studying physiology in all nigeria universities far outnumbered the vacancies in universities for lecturing positions. I think NUC should stricly limit universities that offer physiology as a degree awarding course in Nigeria and the number of students they should admit and BMS courses should be offered as double honour so that those that cannot afford to further for Msc can settle down for something.
Unemployment in Nigeria is also a threat to the development of the BMS. In the last physiological society of Nigeria held last year in Unical, the executives being mostly Medical doctors tried to come up with a resolution that only MBBS graduates should further for Msc in physiology so if they succeed it will no longer be possible for those that have first degree in physiology to proceed to Msc.
To be successful in this field, you will have to give yourself to rigorous self development and be patient because the truth is that the financial reward may come late or may never come but the joy there is that you are doing what you enjoy doing and you are contributing to the furtherance of knowledge.
Pardon my errors.

ziga:

But that shouldn't be a reason for eliminating Diploma courses. All that should happen is that the course be changed to a Diploma in medical laboratory sciences, and the MLSCN would supervise these Diploma courses and ensure that they meet the necessary standards.

An example would be scrapping polytechnic engineering courses because you can get engineering degrees from a university.

If there is a need for more Lab med scientists and Universities are not producing enough, then that would be a rational thing to do.

Unfortunately, I think because of the stagnation and lack of funding that we have to health in Nigeria, even though millions of people need healthcare, facilities are limited!!! And no matter how much manpower you have, a kitchen can only fit so many cooks.

,
The issue is about progress/advancement involving the re-setting of the minimum standard for practice; in this case from technological to scientific grade, from diploma certificates to degrees while working within the framework of the laws in Nigeria.
For example, the law says only universities under the supervision of the NUC can offer degree certificates; since the minimum requirement is BMLS, therefore the IMLTN (now MLSCN) has no option other than to cancel the diploma courses and allow the universities to take over.
The real problem, however, as I have already mentioned is that of career guidance or lack of it.
Although Nigeria is still progressing, unfortunately its nowhere near the stage when due to ample opportunities ppl can just read anything and comfortably assume that there are bound be jobs out there tailor measured for them (like you'd find in advanced countries).
Ppl should think and plan ahead, after all by the time anyone reaches university he/she is already an adult and ought to know where he/she should be heading for.
Another problem is that of our leadership, where inept corrupt ppl end up at the helm of affairs mismanaging our progression as a nation.
Normally, a government sets out a plan/vision of what it wants achieve in terms of its human resource development; and then put in place the necessary structures, processes and procedures.
If for example, the goal is excellence in computer technology the govt would develop and put in place the requisite policies to attract entrepreneurs to invest in that industry so as to create demand for the relevant skills; similarly it would also shape admission policies and courses being offered so that at the end of the day it would have created and managed supply and demand; while moving the whole country in the right direction.
Unfortunately, we all know whats been happening, somebody would derail everything because he/she preferred his/her selfish interest or that his/her ethnic group, religion, state or even village before everybody else's. SMH.

Guys there is no need to brandish insults.
The plain thruth is that the BMS graduates have no role in clinical and hospital practice.
I say this with all sense of responsibility.
The formation of these courses were meant to produce lecturers in the basic medical sciences.
But the enrolment has increased so much that that has failed.the thinking then was that medical doctors may not be fascinated by being such lecturers whsich has also become a fallacy.
Retaining it as a course is of no relevance.
I am medical doctor post 13 years qualification.
I have specialist qualification in radiology.
I write reports on various anatomical parts everyday-arteries,nerves,corona radiata,muscles,viscera etc.
I don't need an anatomoist in my clinic.
Radiological anatomy is different from gross anatomy.
My catheterising the urethra does not need a BmS input.
What will a BMS do in the theatre.The surgeon himself is a surgical anatomist.He has not business in theatre if he can't identify and navigate the planes.

Let's count it out,you don't need to be a graduate to be a phlebothomist,ecg or eeg operator.these are short courses in many developed countries-like 3 to 6 month.ran into a nigerian teenager in chicago who is a ECG tech.I was trying to encourage her to go to medical school.
Its so disheatning we don't plan in this country hence this huge mistake.
Just my opinion.Comments welcome

ziga:

I'm sorry, but can you please explain what the bolded statement means??

A graduate of medical laboratory science cannot be equated with a graduate of either microbiology, biochemistry or anatomy.

Lab scientists are trained in a very complex multidisciplinary courses, from hematology, microbiology, histopathology, immunology, clinical chemistry to ancillary courses like pharmacology and toxicology, biomedical engineering and instrumentation, public health epidemiology, hospital management.

Can you see why medical laboratory science is now a professional course.

In as much am not making jest of other disciplines of study, What i think is that there are many courses in Nigeria with conflicting roles.

The problem with Nigeria as a country is that we have little or no regard for pure/basic sciences generally. This is the fundamental stumbling block to our scientific and technological progress. Medicine has its foundation in basic medical sciences and almost every paradigm shift in clinical practice has its roots in the sciences. Nigerians should not expect any medical breakthrough until we take basic medical sciences seriously by encouraging our best brains to study those courses, establish laboratories for them to carry out researches and pay them handsomely.

Sal C: Physiologists function as histopathologists you say? Believe me the histopathologists under MLS are still puppets in the hands of pathologists. They are yet to gain there own ground let alone accommodate others.

I truly wish these issues be properly addressed in Nigeria

Why is that so?
Any rules/legislation setting them aside from their colleagues in other specialty preventing them from being their own men?

chreld_b: This is an interesting thread, I wonder why it took so long to get to front page. That aside let me give my own two kobo. First and foremost my initial analysis is that most graduates of BMS have little understanding of what role they are meant to play in the medical field (i'll get back to that). Secondly the brutal truth is that a BMS graduate (BSC) has little or no role to play in a hospital. Now let me expantiate. As a graduate of BMS you are trained to focus the career path of a scientist (research) but you want to do the job of a doctor. What most people don't understand is that doctors are not scientist. Scientists advance knowledge, whereas doctors merely apply existing knowledge. Unlike the MD who does not need to produce any original research, scientist must produce original research and earn some professional credibility. It typically takes a couple of years longer to become a scientist most times you have to earn a PhD. Part of the reason it takes so long is that the scientist is being trained on how to think critically about existing knowledge, and it can take a while to find one's niche and fill a gap in the knowledge base. This means that if you yourself want to make important scientific discoveries and then tell the world about them, you will be much better prepared by getting a PhD than an MD. You also will be much better prepared to criticize studies you read about in virtually any field because you will be trained in critical thinking and writing. MDs typically aren't as qualified as scientists to evaluate research studies and their significance.

If you want to play the role of a doctor, ask yourself if you will be content with applying the knowledge you learn (MD) from other people, or if you would like to get in on the action of making the discoveries yourself (PhD/scientist). For instance, would you like to be one of the scientists who are figuring out how to cure cancer? Would you like to see if giving aging mice a particular the enzyme (one that you discover) makes their hair shiny again and restores their fertility (PhD/scientist)? Or would you be content giving your future medical patients the proper dose of the medications that arise from this research and then seeing the signs of youth return in your patients (MD)? These are the kind of things BMS graduates should understand in order to re orientate themselves.

This difference in training also means that if you want to know what the cutting-edge knowledge is in a given field, you have to ask a scientist in that field, not an MD. So for instance, let's say you or your mate is having trouble getting pregnant. If you just ask your local obstetrician or gynecologist what the cutting edge discoveries are regarding fertility, that MD is not likely to know. That MD can give you fertility treatments that he or she has learned about and tried with other patients.

Finally don't forget that a good number of doctors have years of postgraduate medical training and have become specialist in areas that are highly related to courses in BMS such as anatomy physiology and BCH. So how do you with just a BSC expect to compete with that in a medical setting. The upshot of my message is this: As a graduate of BMS it is imperative that you spend some more time developing yourself. If you do so you would get the same if not more respect and recognition that an MD has. Besides if you actually read medicine you would have to do that anyways. So what is stopping you now? Even doctors know these truths that is why you see them trying to get PhD's in this same BMS you are complaining about. While I give my props to doctors I would like to encourage the BMS graduates to strive to follow the path they have been put on and become the scientist they are meant to be. Make no mistake about it your BSC degree does not yet qualify you to be called a scientist yet. And if you insist on been relevant in the medical field this is the best advice I can offer to the best of my knowledge. Hope this helps and does not come in bad taste. Cheers

. One of the best contribution so far...

I graduated with Anatomy degree in 2010..served. 2011...Worked 2012 till date in a Government owned mortuary... Presently, I pack close to 200k home every month but am still planning for masters cuz humiliation is too much in hospital settings with Doctors "pathologists "clashing wit my office daily!