Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan
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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