ONE ON ONE WITH THE REGISTRAR OF THE MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
ONE ON ONE WITH THE REGISTRAR OF THE MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
The opportunity to meet with the Registrar/ CEO of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Prof. Tosan Erhabor came during my recent visit to Abuja during the presentation of the ISO certificates to some deserving Medical Laboratories in Nigeria. I got to the headquarter of the Council to pay a courtesy call to the Registrar. I was giving a warm welcome and this is an extract from my conversations with the Chief Executive Officer of our Council.
Good day Prof, what is the significance of today’s event, particularly the formal receipt and presentation of certificates of accreditation to deserving medical laboratories?
Accreditation is an attestation to quality implementation. So, the re-accreditation of MLSCN owned National External Quality Assurance Laboratory in Saye, Zaria is a testament to the fact that MLSCN as a regulatory agency is not only enforcing compliance to quality in medical laboratory services in Nigeria, but is also implementing quality in its own facilities and sustaining it.
I recently paid for my license and received it within three days. Could you share the secret behind this impressive turnaround time, Sir?
The management of MLSCN is avidly committed to client’s satisfaction in all the components of its services. So, the digitalization of the license renewal portal to make it seamless and timely, is one of the many reforms of the Council to enhance service delivery.
What is the Council doing Sir, concerning the issues that payment of N5000 is gradually replacing CPD in the process of license renewal?
The essence of acquiring 10 CPD credits as a prerequisite to the annual license renewal by practitioners is to ensure that they update their knowledge and skills in the ever-dynamic world of science and technology. To this end, the management of MLSCN has commenced holistic reforms to the current CPD process. This will be unveiled within the year and it will involve broad-based, more effective and participatory processes that will address the identified gap.
There was a time when Medical Laboratory Technicians faced challenges gaining direct entry to universities due to NBTE-related issues. Does this relate to the recent release on ND Medical Laboratory Technology? If so, don’t you think having ND Medical Laboratory Technology will pose a challenge to BMLS as employers of labour will naturally demand for HND Medical Laboratory Technology in nation’s Polytechnics for the purpose of getting cheap labour.
It is correct that the current ND programme in Medical Laboratory Science with the NBTE will surely address the challenges of direct entry to universities faced by Medical Laboratory Technicians because we cannot be training that cadre of professionals with uncertainties in their career progression.
However, the ND programme in MLT will not pose any challenges to the holders of the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory science, who are high level manpower.
Additionally, the ND programme will only be mounted in Schools and Colleges of Health Technology, so no monotechnic or polytechnic will be accredited to run the programme. It does not erode the three years programme of MLSCN and note the program will terminate in ND as there is no room for any progression to HND.
Regarding the national inspection, what should Medical Laboratory professionals expect?
With regards to National inspection, expect effectiveness and transformations in the mode of conducting inspection to stem the tide of quackery and unwholesome practices.
The activities of the technical committee on inspection will soon be presented to the Hon. Minister of State for Health with many innovations that will change the regulatory landscape of inspection in the country.
MLS professionals are singing the praise of revivified MLSCN in terms of the establishment of the new zonal offices and new committee. Please share with us the new injection making the difference.
The States and Zonal offices are currently undergoing reforms with the introduction of smart technologies to drive their activities. We are poised to serve our clients at the states and zones better, there is no need to travel to the head office for services. We are synergizing with the zonal and state officers for prompt responses to their submissions at the headquarters. There are better days ahead.
Thank you. Hope to get more information next time.
You are welcome