MLSCN calls for ‘urgent’ accreditation of medical lab institutions

Sir Erhabor

…says accreditation key to efficient, quality health care

Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria MLSCN, has called on Nigerian government to ensure that all tertiary laboratory institutions in the country are accredited to help bring about better, more efficient, and safer health care to Nigerians.

Acting Registrar /CEO MLSCN, Sir Tosan Erhabor made this appeal on Tuesday June 12 in Abuja at an event to commemorate the 2018 World Accreditation Day, with the theme: “Accreditation : Delivering a safer world.

He said proper accreditation of all medical laboratories in the country remained an essential ingredient to better, efficient, safe health facilities delivery in the country.

According to him, the fact that safety in various ramifications is the kernel of this year’s celebration is an added incentive to MLSCN.

“It’s our duty to orchestrate campaigns that highlight and even amplify the importance of safety, especially in professional practice.

“As a regulator of such critical sector where practitioners are often exposed to some of the most hazardous materials and specimens and have to operate in the most controlled environment, for us at MLSCN, it has become imperative to ensure that there is a paradigm shift towards accurate, reliable reproducible, timely and cost-effective laboratory test results.

“Once again, I urge the Federal Ministry of Health to give meaning to its directive of three years ago, givento tertiary health institutions in the country to commence the process of accrediting their medical laboratories. The clock continues to tick, the world of medicine, science and technology continues to grow exponentially, so there is no time. Change should not only begin with us, but it should also begin now. ”

Speaking on the importance of accreditation, he said: “This is with a view to stemming the exodus to other countries on medical tourism and to help our country conserve its scarce foreign exchange.

“It is in the interest of the teeming patients and economy of this country for medical laboratory facilities to seek and gain accreditation. That is one of way of building confidence in the system and ensuring that Nigerian are safe.

“If Nigeria is not safe the world is not safe, so at this stage, what we need right now in the country is to have immediate comprehensive review of 65 MLSCN in the country.”

While lamenting the low quality standard of practitioners in the country Sir Erhabor, said: “How could a laboratory be safe for any patient when the practitioners does not have the requisite qualification or licence to function well? How could a passenger feel safe flying with someone who merely claims to be a pilot but lacks the necessary training, competency and approval?

“Our preserved nonchalant attitude towards the culture of quality and particularly its signpost which is accreditation has been implicated in the failure of our products and services to compete favourably in the international market.”

He asked the the stakeholders in the country to key in into accreditation of the all medical laboratory in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie, Ehanire, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Emmanuel Moribole, while declaring open 2018 World Accreditation Day assured that government would spare no effort in ensuring that all the medical facilities are properly accredited to ensure quality health services for the nation.