The Federal Government has
closed 15 laboratories in the
Federal Capital Territory,
accusing them of poor
standards.
The move is part of its initiative to sanitise the
sector.
The Medical Laboratory Science Council of
Nigeria took the action following the rising
number of quack laboratories in Gwagwalada,
Mpape, Kubwa and Lugbe, among other areas.
The Registrar, MLSCN, Prof. Anthony Emeribe,
who stated this during a briefing in Abuja, on
Monday, said the government was committed
to riding the sector of illegal practices.
He said, “The council has been working
tirelessly to sanitise the sector with a view to
ridding it of quacks, substandard products and
other encumbrances to accurate and reliable
medical laboratory reports.
“This becomes even more crucial considering
that empirical data indicates that between 60
and 85 per cent of the indices required for
effective clinical diagnosis and management of
diseases are derived from the medical
laboratories. Those who are benefitting from
the rot are reluctant to embrace the
transformation we are working towards in the
sector. But they will not deter us.”
Emeribe, who said that owners of such sealed
facilities defied the order, noted that they still
embark on illegal practices.
He said, “We discovered that after visiting a
facility and possibly sealing it due to poor
standards, as soon as we were out of sight, the
operators would break the seal and continue
with their nefarious activities.”
He vowed that the agency would not relent in
fighting those involved in such illegal practices.
Emeribe stated, “They will not deter us, as we
are ready to take the fight to all nook and
cranny of the country. It is our duty and we
will do it for the good of Nigeria. Regardless of
the successes already recorded in reducing
quackery and the preponderance of fake or
substandard medical laboratory products, we
still have more to do.”
Meanwhile, the Office of the Head of Service
has directed that no science technologist
should practice in any medical laboratory in
the country.
In the circular sent to the MLSCN and other
agencies, the HoS said it would no longer
tolerate the practice where science
technologists and laboratory scientists worked
in medical laboratory environment.
It also urged science technologists and
laboratory scientists to restrict their opeartions
within the purview of science laboratories
regulated by the Federal Ministry of Science
and Technology.


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It is good that quackery is being fought seriously by the MLSCN,however I think the States' Gov't throught their Min of Health or appropriate agency are in the best position (if Nigeria were to operate a true Federalism) to set standards for and monitoring of health facilities in their States.

The directive of the Head of (Civil) service carry little or no weight to people outside Gov't employment.
The idea that ONLY Medical Lab Scientists can work in Medical Laboratories is NOT practicable.It can't work and its bound to fail in the long run.The MLSCN need to reevaluate its 'stratedgy of exclusion'