The19th Annual Public Health Lecture and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has ended in Enugu with a call on the Federal Government to accelerate critical policy reforms in the health sector in the country. 

In a communique issued after their meeting on Saturday, the body stated that the delays in implementing key decisions are weakening healthcare governance, workforce development and service delivery across the nation. 

In the communique read before newsmen in Enugu, AMLSN National President, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prioritise reforms affecting medical laboratory practice, including the reconstitution of regulatory boards, approval of new professional programmes and inclusion of laboratory services in national health interventions.

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They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the bill establishing the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, describing the proposed institution as a major policy milestone that would strengthen education, research, innovation and healthcare development in Nigeria.

The professional body also commended the Federal Government for appointing Dr. Donald Ibeh Ofili as the substantive Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), saying the move would reinforce professional regulation, quality assurance, workforce development and patient safety.

The association, however, expressed concern over what it described as the prolonged delay in reconstituting the Governing Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and other health regulatory boards, warning that the situation has weakened oversight, delayed policy implementation and disrupted accreditation and certification processes.

“The consequences of this delay are profound and far-reaching. It has weakened regulatory oversight, slowed policy implementation, delayed critical institutional decisions, disrupted training accreditation and professional certification processes, hindered workforce development, and reduced accountability across the health sector,” Ifeanyi said.

AMLSN further faulted the exclusion of Medical Laboratory Science programmes from the Federal Government’s Special Intervention for Health Professions (SHIP) initiative funded through the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), describing the decision as inconsistent with efforts to strengthen healthcare education.

According to the association, medical laboratory scientists play a central role in healthcare delivery, noting that more than 70 per cent of clinical decisions are based on laboratory results.

It therefore urged the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund to review the policy and ensure the inclusion of Medical Laboratory Science programmes in the intervention scheme.

The association also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to approve and commence implementation of the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS.D) programme, saying the curriculum aligns with regional and globaly standards and would enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in medical diagnostics and translational research.

On healthcare policy, AMLSN appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to include medical laboratory services in the country’s Minimum Package for Health, arguing that quality healthcare cannot be achieved without accessible diagnostic services.

The association equally urged the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to approve the Consultant Cadre for Medical Laboratory Scientists, maintaining that the policy would improve career progression, workforce retention and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

AMLSN also rejected what it described as attempts by some professional groups to restrict the career progression and statutory responsibilities of other healthcare professionals, insisting that “no profession owns Nigeria’s healthcare sector.”

It called on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Council on Establishment to reject proposals capable of undermining the growth and autonomy of other health professions.

On national security, the association expressed concern over the increasing cases of kidnappings and attacks affecting healthcare workers, urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts to ensure the safety of Nigerians and health professionals across the country.