The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has issued a stern warning to Medical Laboratory facilities within government agencies, private/corporate bodies and other related health institutions that are being headed/managed by non-medical laboratory scientists as well as aiding and abetting quackery in the practice of Medical Laboratory Science to desist or face the legal implications.
Read the circular below:
CIRCULAR No: 1
MLSCN/LEG/CIR/01/2022
1st February, 2022
MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL LABORATORIES BY MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS
The above subject matters refers; The attention of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “MLSCN” has been drawn to the fact that some Medical Laboratories domiciled in government agencies, private/corporate bodies and other related health institutions are being headed/managed by non-medical laboratory scientists while some are associating with unqualified personnel/ quacks and consequently aiding and abetting quackery in the practice of Medical Laboratory Science.
Sequel to the above background, it has become expedient to bring to your attention the following legal implications of allowing a non-medical laboratory scientist to head/manage a medical laboratory and the act of associating with unqualified personnel/quacks; aiding and abetting the practice of medical laboratory science by quacks and to further solicit your support to curb this trend:
- Regulation 15 of Regulations for Minimum Practice Standards, 2018 provides that the most Senior Medical Laboratory Science Practitioner to the exclusion of medical laboratory technicians and assistants in a medical laboratory, either in private or public health institutions, shall be made the head of the laboratory, notwithstanding whether there is an existing administrator, or where the medical laboratory is owned by a non-practitioner.
- Regulation 14(1) of Regulations for Minimum Practice Standards, 2018 further provides that where a medical laboratory is jointly owned by a practitioner and a non-practitioner, a licensed Practitioner to the exclusion of a medical laboratory technician/ assistant, shall head the medical laboratory and shall be so stated in the partnership agreement.
- Rule 18(1) of Rules of the Professional Conduct for Medical Laboratory Scientist, Laboratory Technicians and Laboratory Assistants, 2018 provides thus: “No Practitioner or persons shall allow his name or professional service be used to aid or make possible the unauthorized practice of medical laboratory science”
- Rule 19 of Rules of the Professional Conduct for Medical Laboratory Scientist, laboratory Technicians and Laboratory Assistants 2018 further provides thus: Any registered Practitioner who
(a) Associate, advice or cooperate, knowingly enables a person that is not registered with the Council as a Practitioner to practice medical laboratory science or perform any procedure that requires the exercise of discretion and skill of a practitioner, breaches these Rules and shall be liable to disciplinary proceedings by the Council”
(b) Employ the services of an unregistered Practitioner or person to practice medical laboratory science is guilty of professional misconduct and shall be trable on conviction to a fine of N100,00.00 or have his license revoked” in the light of the above cited relevant statutory provisions and to ensure the maintenance of the standard of practice in Medical Laboratory Science, MLSCN is by this circular notifying you of the following:
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It is an offence for a non- Medical Laboratory Scientist to head/manage a medical laboratory.
- It is also an offence for a Practitioner or persons who own facilities housing medical laboratories to aid and abet the practice of Medical Laboratory Science by allowing quacks/unqualified personnel in their facilities.
- More so, it is an offence for a Practitioner to associate with quacks/unqualified personnel in the practice of medical laboratory science.
- In addition, the engagement of quacks/unqualified medical laboratory personnel poses grievous harm to the health of the unsuspecting clients that utilizes those facilities.
While looking forward to the distribution of this circular to the concerned officers,
Kindly accept my warmest regards.
Signed:
Dr Tosan Erhabor
Registrar/CEO
NB: The above cited laws can be obtained from the MLSCN website www.mlscn.gov.ng
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