…Says 3000 left in 2yrs
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), has raised alarm over the exodus of medical laboratory scientists from Nigeria in search of greener pasture abroad, disclosing that no fewer than 3000 of its members have migrated abroad in the past two years.
This is as the National Assembly has promised to prioritise bills and policies aimed at strengthening medical laboratory services and addressing gaps in regulation, infrastructure, and professional training.
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who spoke at the 60th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MLSCN, held in Umuahia, Abia State, said legislative support would be provided to empower MLSCN as the sole regulator of laboratory services.
He also promised legislative support to upgrade the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology (FCMLST), to a National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (NPCMLS).
The Deputy Speaker who was represented by the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, NPC, Mr Trumps Eke Mba, said the legislature was committed to improving healthcare budgets to modernise infrastructure and promote innovation in medical laboratory services for Nigerians.
Earlier in a keynote address, the VIce Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, stressed the importance of innovation in medical practice which he said, “is essential for improving healthcare outcomes and ensuring better health and well-being.”
He identified the near-abandonment of primary healthcare centers as a critical challenge undermining the foundation of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to Professor Iwe, failure to adopt current innovations could exacerbate the impacts of infectious disease pandemics in the country.
He said Nigeria “lags behind global health standards with low life expectancy, and malaria as the leading cause of death, high HIV incidence, and the migration of health workers due to poor remuneration.”
In a remark, Governor Alex Otti represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu, called for improved quality of services in laboratories.
Otti re-stated the commitment of his administration to improve health facilities in the state.
Later in a communique, MLSCN called for the adoption of diagnostic technologies such as “Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) in laboratories, digital PCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) and other technological innovations not yet mainstreamed in Nigeria.”
The communique was signed by the National President of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, Dr Uche Odionyenma; National Secretary, Abdulsalam Yakubu; and Chairman of Communique drafting committee, Adeleke Olaoluwa.
Insisting that labs should be manned by qualified Medical Laboratory professionals, MLSCN also called for increased local production of diagnostic tools and reagents to reduce dependency on imports.
The body further demanded the positioning of medical laboratories as the bedrock of modern medicine critical in monitoring and surveillance of infectious diseases.
It also advocated mandatory inspection of all public and private medical laboratories by MLSCN for ensuring the quality of diagnostic services.
The conference called for the establishment of a centralised internship placement system to ensure that Medical Laboratory Science graduates have access to structured and standardised internship opportunities across the country.
It also called for improved remuneration and conditions of service for medical laboratory scientists.
The communique demanded issuance of a directive at the National Council on Health for the employment of more Medical Laboratory Scientists to run functional Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) laboratories in all 774 LGAs.
“This will increase access to quality diagnostic services and strengthen public health outreach,” it read.
The communique strongly condemned the leadership of Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, “which has remained unchanged since 2008 (over 16 years), contrary to extant public service rules.”
