Why Lagos shuts medical laboratory conducting COVID-19 tests illegally

*Unlawful practice poses health risk to community, staff of medical facility

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In demonstrating the seriousness of its proficient management of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the state, the Lagos State Government has shut a private medical laboratory conducting COVID-19 tests illegally inside a pharmacy on Banana Island, in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The State Ministry of Health, in a tweet via its verified Twitter account Saturday, July 11 disclosed that the laboratory, Acouns Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, situated inside a pharmacy, was carrying out COVID-19 tests without required government approval.

While stressing that the unlawful practice poses danger to the community and staff of such medical facilities, the Ministry has advised residents to desist from patronising health facilities not accredited by the state government for testing or management of COVID-19 cases.

It is recalled that Prof. Akin Abayomi, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, in an update on the state’s COVID-19 situation Friday, June 26, said that the state government had selected seven private laboratories through a rigorous accreditation process.

Prof. Abayomi listed the accredited centres for COVID-19 tests as Total Medical Services, SynLab; 54Gene, Medbury Medical Services, Biologix Medical Services, 02 Medical Services and Clina Lancent Laboratories.

It is imperative that COVID-19 tests be widely available to members of the public as the state continuously opens up various aspects of its economy, stated the Commissioner for Health.

It said: “It is illegal to manage COVID-19 cases outside of an accredited facility.

“We implore the public not to go for test or treatment in a private facility that has not been accredited by government.

“It is dangerous and it might put you at more risk.”

According to the Lagos State Government, Health Facility Monitoring Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), one of the agencies of the State Ministry of Health, sealed off the facility.

The ministry would continue to do its best to ensure that health facilities in the state adhere strictly to standards that guarantee the health and wellbeing of Lagos citizens, it assured Lagos residents.