As part of efforts to rid Lagos State of unprofessional laboratory practise, the Medical Laboratory Science Council Of Nigeria (MLSCN), has sealed off 28 laboratory facilities within the metropolis, as well as charge four persons for quackery.
The council said the facilities sealed failed to meet minimum standard in rendering laboratory services to the citizens, while the four persons arrested and charged, were practising without council approval.
Revealing this in a press briefing in Lagos, the Chairman, MLSCN National Task Force on Laboratory Inspection, Dr.Lawrena Okoro, said the council, which started its inspection last week in the State, will continue to comb the city until every laboratory facility conform to the acceptable internationalstandard.
According to her, the council has the responsibility ofbequeathing to the citizens, quality medical laboratory services,which benchmarks international best practice. We have been charged as the only agency empowered by law in the country as enunciated by law to inspect, regulate and accredit medicallaboratories, including those in hospitals and adjourning clinics, while also determining from time to time, the standard of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become medical laboratory scientists, technicians and assistants," she stressed.
Explaining the guidelines and standards set by the council, she said any laboratory willing to ply its trade in the country must conform with the council's regulation for registration, approval, monitoring and accreditation. "They must also conform with the council's continuous quality improvement and laboratory designs."
Okoro emphasized that these guidelines were set so as to ensure that every single result or report originating from any laboratory facility in the country was accurate, reliable and reproducible.
She argued that this will ensure that the right policies, processes,personnel, environment, equipment and of course in-vitrodiagnostics were deployed towards accomplishing these standards, so that patients can expect the best outcomes in the management of their ailments . she also sounded a note of warning to others who have minorflaws to put corrective actions in place without delay.
Source: All Africa News
