Test Results

The attention of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has been drawn to the advertortals published by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in The Guardian & Daily Trust newspapers on monday. February 24, 2014. In the publications, the MDCN directed all medical doctors and dentists to resist any attempt by the medical enuciated in Cap M25 LFN, 2004. MLSCN considers such a directive regrettable as it ia a great disservice to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians across the country and the recent clamour in the House of Representatives on the need to curb poor teat results issued by medical laboratories MLSCN which is focused on enhanced regulation for quality medical lab test results shall remain undaunted and will continue to out to all stakeholders to jion hands in the arduous task to upscale medical laboratory services in the country which is presently chaotic and largely unreliable.

Rather than bowing to the stampede of one of its affiliate sub-groups (ASSOPON) renowned for making incendiary remarks about other professionals, MDCN should focus more on supporting MLSCN to improve medical laboratory services. The claim that it is reacting to MLSCN publications in some national dailies, which it described as "such provocative notices" is mere subterfuge, as MLSCN is not usurping its responsibity to regulate CLINICAL LABORATORY PRACTICALS (Cap M8) as opposed to MEDICAL LABORATORY SERVICES. Act 11 of 2003 (Cap 5 LFN 2004). which the MDCN wrongly cited charges MLSCN wrongly cited charges MLSCN with the "maintenance and control including statutory inspection, approval and monitoring of ALL medical laboratories including those adjoined to clinics, private and public health institutions," Council holds this mandate dearly and it has no intention to abandon it! It is insppropriate for MDCN to state that "If any Regulatory Body is not satisfied with the status quo, the proper thing to do is to apply to the appropriate authorities for a redress" as fellow citizens deserve better than the status quo exemplified by inaccurate and unreliable test results, quackery, forgrey of test results etc. The consequences of the status quo include loss of public confidence in the medical laboratory system with attendant medical tourism and capital flight that must be stemmed

In order to set the records straight, Council hereby:

1. Refers stakeholders and the general public public to its notice issued in the Guardian newspaper of january 30, 2014 and other in order to verify the MDCN claim that the said notice was provocative.

2. Asks the MDCN to reflect on its claim that it is provocative for medical laboratories seek approval before operating or to be enrolled in the national datebase or the external quality assessment programme (EQA) or to key into into continuous quality improvement (CQI) 

3. Contends that MDCN is unable to refute the fate that MLSCN is mandated to regulate medical laboratory services in the country. Indeed the MLSCN Act Cap M25 LFN clearly mandates it to " INSPECT, REGULATE and  ACCREDIT MEDICAL LABORATORIES" Why overheat the already turbulent health sector just to prove to some war-mongering affiliate that you are championing its interest?

4. Notes that No patriotic, regulatory authority should continue to ignore the present chaotic state of medical laboratory services irrespective of the owners. Whose interest will a docile,insular Regulatory Body in the garb of status quo or business as usual serve?

5. Whereas MDCn is charged to regulate the practice and training of medical laboratory scientists, technicians and assistants in Nigeria AS WELL AS MEDICAL LABORATORY SERVICES (Processes - approval, certification, accreditation; diagnostics and infrastructure)

6. Whereas Practice regulation by doctors and medical lab scientists is based on compliance with professional Codes of Conduct/Ethics, services regulation os thrice much more as indicated above. If MDCN was truly charged to be regulating services, it would have had in its database approved hospitals, clinics, theatres, ICU, wards etc, which it understandably does not have as it is not so mandated unlike in the case of MLSCN for medical laboratories datebase. Ownership of the medical laboratory does not preclude the full operation of Sections 4th and 19(ID) of the MLSCN Act as the import is to ensure delivery of quality medical lab test results to Nigerians!

Operators of all public and private medical laboratories are therefore urged to conform to the set medical laboratory services national standards and guidelines (www.mlscn.gov.ng) to guarantee quality service delivery and not be distracted by undue territorial tuft polemics

 

Signed

MANAGEMENT