FG tasks MLSCN on combating quackery in medical laboratory practice

The Federal Government has charged the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) to adequately tackle the quackery and misconduct in the practice of the laboratory profession and ensure only certified personnel are allowed to practice in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, while giving charge during a visit to the headquarters of MLSCN in Abuja also urged the Council to ensure that erring professionals are summarily sanctioned to act as a deterrent to others.

He challenged the management of the council to ensure that only registered and certified medical laboratory science professionals were allowed to practice in the country.

While commending the Council for embarking on the digitalization of its operations, the minister urged MLSCN management to brace up and sanction those who engage in unprofessional practices as well as address quackery in the sector.

“There is no doubt that as a regulatory body in charge of regulating the practice of laboratory professionals, technicians and others, you have the law behind to regulate their practices.

“Therefore, if you are talking about not having qualified people being employed by medical facilities then I will throw it back to you that it is still your lapses because it is your responsibility to ensure that anybody that is not qualified does not practice in Nigeria.

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“The law is behind you and you should sanction practitioners who are quacks and also employers who engage quacks.

“So, you just have to sit up and do your responsibility. Salako told the Council that digitalization will help it maintain an up-to-date list of professionals nationwide and be able to track their activities.

The Minister of State said there is no doubt that medical laboratory science is a very important aspect of the healthcare delivery system.

“As clinicians, we know that often when the result of laboratory test diagnosis is out, it gives more confidence by confirming that the diagnosis is going on in the right direction. It’s like shining a light on a dark spot.

“We have seen a lot of times where wrong diagnosis has led to a lot of fatalities and disabilities and sometimes in loss of lives so you must continue to prioritize what you do.”

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