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Standards: Medical Council seals off 34 medical laboratories, arrests 3 suspects in Osun

NCDC National Reference Laboratory

*The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria stresses it deploys instruments to sanitise the medical laboratory service sector in order to meet the yearnings of Nigerian consumers regarding accurate, reliable, reproducible, timely, and cost-effective test results

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

For operating below the required professional standards, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has shut 34 medical laboratories in Osun State.

ConsumerConnect reports M. James Ogbeche, Head of Inspection Unit of the Council, disclosed this development at a press conference Friday, July 29, 2022, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Ogbeche, who stated that the MLSCN had arrested three persons, noted the Council derives its powers from Act 11, 2003, which mandate the agency to inspect, regulate and accredit medical laboratories in the country.

The Council’s Head of Inspection Unit said the offences for which the affected laboratories were sealed off included operating without observing safety standard, non-renewal of licences, operating without required equipment among others.

He also said: “It is therefore, pursuant to the Law that the Council from time to time deploys instruments to sanitise the medical laboratory service sector.

“This is to meet the yearnings of the citizens from accurate, reliable, reproducible, timely, and cost-effective medical laboratory test results.”

The Council’s Head of Inspection Unit further noted: “The MLSCN team has been in Osun since July 25, combing the nooks and crannies of the state.

“This is to ensure that medical laboratory facilities in the state are fit for its purpose and operating according to high ethical standards, which council considered to be sacrosanct.”

Ogbeche said: “During the period, 71 laboratories were inspected, out of which 34 were sealed for operating below the required standards.

“We also closed four laboratories for lacking certain equipment, but we gave them 72 hours to provide the equipment for their laboratories to be reopened.

“We also arrested three persons, and handed them over to the Police for prosecution, for operating as quacks.”

According to him, some the towns the Council Team visited include Osogbo, Iwo, Ejigbo, Ilesa, Ijebu-Ijesa, Ile-Ife, Modakeke and Ede among others.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, Osun State Commissioner for Health, commended the Council for its efforts at sanitising the medical laboratory service sector.

The Commissioner stated the state government would continue to clamp down on quacks.

The Osun State Ministry of  Health will build on what the Council has achieved, he assured.

Dr. Isamotu also the disclosed that the laboratories the Council had shut would not be allowed to reopen without adhering to the required standards in the state.

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