DMLS – which is Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science programme has being making the rounds in recent times.
This is because the National Universities Commission (NUC) recently issued a statement that the commission has upgraded some medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree to doctoral status.
Among the medical programmes receiving the upgrade are the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry (O.D).
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According to the statement, the decision for the upgrade was driven by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively.
The commission also noted that the upgrade aligns with global best practices for training professionals in the fields.
It said, as part of the changes, the duration of the affected programmes has been extended from five to six years to accommodate additional courses and clinical training.
However, the Commission called on the general public to disregard Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme existence in any university in the country as such is not approved.
In a statement, Wednesday, signed by NUC Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo, the commission said DMLS is not contained either in the commission’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) or Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
It is mind boggling to note that the doctor of Medical Laboratory Science programme is being ran in several universities in Ghana and in other countries, however the educational regulatory body in Nigeria find it difficult to approve same in Nigeria.
To be honest, with the advancement and evolution of knowledge and new technologies, the Medical Laboratory Science has gone far beyond a 5-year programme hence the need for an upgrade too as the case with optometry, physiotherapy and Pharmacy.
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