The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) said it will collaborate with the Sokoto State government to tackle quackery in the medical laboratory science profession.
A statement from the council yesterday said its Acting Registrar, Mr Tosan Erhabor stated this when he led a delegation on a visit to the Commissioner of Health, Sokoto State, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale in Sokoto State.
He urged the state to work with the council towards eradicating quackery, which he described as the major challenge militating against progress in the medical laboratory services sector in the country.
He said the council was ready to collaborate with the state to sanitize medical laboratories operating in the state, while he advised the ministry to ensure that tertiary health facilities in the state commenced the process of accreditation for their laboratories.
He also urged the state ministry of health to key into the council’s External Quality Assurance (EQA) scheme.
Dr Kakale urged the management of the council to join hands with his ministry towards eradicating the menace in the state.
According to him, Bachelor of Science degree holders and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders or others with similar qualifications should not be working in the medical laboratory as they had not been trained to do so.
The Commissioner recalled that a directive had been issued to the Ministry of Higher Education to stop posting polytechnic students to medical laboratories for Industrial Attachment.
He added that there were existing laws that have not been effectively implemented, including the National Health Act saying it could positively impact medical laboratory services.
