A private clinic doctor for the
second time on Tuesday
refused entry to officials of
Medical Laboratory Science
Council of Nigeria to inspect his lab.
Dr Emeka Obiodunukwe of Demy Health Clinic
& Diagnostic Centre in Gudu area of Abuja
asked the council’s inspectors to leave his
premises, insisting the council did not have a
right to inspect his lab.
But officials insist the lab is not manned by a
qualified and registered laboratory scientist, as
expected for labs, and tests are run by
Obiodunukwe himself.
He was absent on Tuesday when officials
visited a second time, but in a phone message
on speakerphone he threatened legal suit to
stop any inspection ahead of formal
communication between his legal counsel and
the MLSCN, insisting his practice is regulated
by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“You are telling me you have the right to
inspect my laboratory, and I am telling you
[that] you don’t have the right to inspect my
laboratory,” he said over speakerphone to
officials. “So is it not better we address this in
court, rather than barging into my premises
continuously trying to intimidate me?”
MLSCN regulates the practice and training of
medical laboratory scientists in the same
fashion as MDCN does for doctors and
dentists.
“That is where [any similarity] ends, but MLSCN
has additional responsibility of inspecting,
accrediting labs and approving medical
laboratories which the MDCN act doesn’t,”
explained the council’s registrar Anthony
Emeribe.
“You are a doctor, you can have a hospital and
lab, but once it comes to lab services, the laws
are straightforward. We are not regulating the
doctor’s work as a medical doctor, we are
regulating facilities rendering medical
laboratory testing. We are not regulating the
clinic, but that entity in that infrastructure that
renders medical lab testing is what we are
regulating.”
DemyHealth is among a handful of clinics and
laboratories that came under inspection on the
second day of the council’s monitoring of
laboratories around the FCT.

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kenonze:
all these things will not help health sector. Even in the teaching hospital, every department has side lab. what u see in most private hospital are simply side lab. they dont do most test especially microbiology and chemical pathology.
those test are sent to bigger lab in town.
u dont expect a doctor to send for pregnancy test or malaria test out of the hospital while the patient is dying or that may cause delays

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One of the issues that will lead to calls for a review and an ammendment of the MLSCN Act is the attempt to implent ALL its provisions especially the section which give that Council the right to inspect and accredit Medical Laboratories which like all other health facilities are in different categories and manned by multiple and different professionals.

oyatz:
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One of the issues that will lead to calls for a review and an ammendment of the MLSCN Act is the attempt to implent ALL its provisions especially the section which give that Council the right to inspect and accredit Medical Laboratories which like all other health facilities are in different categories and manned by multiple and different professionals.

The review of the MLSCN Act is a matter of time because that act introduced a dangerous dimension in the Health sector by trying to make the Medical Laboratory an exclusive preserve of a particular Profession and its one of the sources of acrimony in the sector...it is not so in all other developed Countries

can hospital runs without laboratories? no. but doctor has right to operate side labs. even nurses running clinic or maternity home can operate labs. why should med lab scientists fighting over side labs. most tests run in side labs can be run by any literate person. i am expecting med lab scientists to direct their energy to better their careers. i am expecting them to bring advanced tests into the country.

adeoladrg:
Doctors again Lemme keep mute fess. Because this same nitwits will tell PCN not to enter their hospital to inspect the pharmacy too. Okay, we are watching

It is wrong for professional body to enter premises in ther name of regulation. it is only done in nigeria because of rivalry in health sector. in lagos, hefama inspects health facilities. the team comprise of all professionals in health sector. a distinct body comprises of all professional should be created by ministry of health to inspect all health facities. can mdcn inspect pharmacy or medical labs even if such facilties engage in medical practice? no. what mdcn can do is to sue such facilities to court or get court order.

joyandfaith:



It is wrong for professional body to enter premises in ther name of regulation. it is only done in nigeria because of rivalry in health sector. in lagos, hefama inspects health facilities. the team comprise of all professionals in health sector. a distinct body comprises of all professional should be created by ministry of health to inspect all health facities. can mdcn inspect pharmacy or medical labs even if such facilties engage in medical practice? no. what mdcn can do is to sue such facilities to court or get court order.

Do you know why MDCN cannot inspect pharmacy and medical labs? The answer is a simple yes dey have no such powers as interpreted by law. They do not have power to inspect clinics and hospital. But the law statutorily empowers PCN and MLSCN to inspect pharmaceutical and medical laboratories both in public (hospital inclusive) and private sector. Ordinarily do you think if law empowers MDCN to inspect (which ordinarily should be sth de should fight for) that u won't see dem inspecting? Ur answer is as good as mine.
U think if MDCN can inspect u won't see dem inspecting Dr's in medical practice to fish out the quacks?

nelszx:


Do you know why MDCN cannot inspect pharmacy and medical labs? The answer is a simple yes dey have no such powers as interpreted by law. They do not have power to inspect clinics and hospital. But the law statutorily empowers PCN and MLSCN to inspect pharmaceutical and medical laboratories both in public (hospital inclusive) and private sector. Ordinarily do you think if law empowers MDCN to inspect (which ordinarily should be sth de should fight for) that u won't see dem inspecting? Ur answer is as good as mine.
U think if MDCN can inspect u won't see dem inspecting Dr's in medical practice to fish out the quacks?

The MDCN being an older regualatory body was introduced during the era of True Federalism in Nigeria (First Republic) where the federating units (which were then called Regions and now States) are the appropiate Gov't to make legislatons to monitor,inspect and set standards for the health facilities in their territories. PCN and MLSCN were introduced much later at an era Nigeria is operating Pseudo-Unitary system of Gov't.
No single agency which is for only one Profession created by the FG Can sussessfully inspect,monitor or set standards for all the Medical Laboratories in Nigeria...Its not practicable and even impossible for many reasons.

oyatz:

The MDCN being an older regualatory body was introduced during the era of True Federalism in Nigeria (First Republic) where the federating units (which were then called Regions and now States) are the appropiate Gov't to make legislatons to monitor,inspect and set standards for the health facilities in their territories. PCN and MLSCN were introduced much later at an era Nigeria is operating Pseudo-Unitary system of Gov't.
No single agency which is for only one Profession created by the FG Can sussessfully inspect,monitor or set standards for all the Medical Laboratories in Nigeria...Its not practicable and even impossible for many reasons.

It's not impossible cos the FG has given the right to inspect, monitor and set standards for medical labs to just one single body as contained in their act both in public and private organisations. And dat has gone to the MLSCN to do.
Provided such privilege has not been overturned it's solely the responsibility of the body in charge for such task
BTW I'd like to know ur "many reasons" if you don't mind sharing.