The federal government has reiterated its commitment to confront quackery in the health sector in order to address misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
The minister of state for health and social welfare, Iziaq Salako, made this known in Abuja on Thursday during the presentation of accreditation certificates to deserving medical laboratories.
Mr Salako said that he would work with the security personnel to ensure the objective was achieved and for Nigerians to have confidence in legitimate healthcare providers.
‘One of my priorities as a minister of state is to totally confront quackery in the health sector.
‘To achieve this, I will need the services of the security personnel to ensure adherence’, he said.
According to him, laboratory bodies like the Medical Laboratory Service Council are essential in achieving this objective.
He charged the council to roll out all their assets and deploy technology to ensure that quackery was eliminated from the profession.
The minister congratulated the eight laboratories for their outstanding achievement and urged other laboratories in the country to emulate them by improving their infrastructure, manpower base, and processes.
‘Accurate and reliable laboratory diagnostics, as we know, is the cornerstone of modern medicine.
‘They enable early detection of diseases, guide appropriate treatment decisions, and contribute significantly to improving patient outcomes.
‘The ISO re-accreditation of National External Quality Assessment Laboratory will undoubtedly enhance the quality and reliability of laboratory results leading to better patient care, reduced treatment errors, and improved public health outcomes’, he said.
He said that the ministry would continue to prioritise medical laboratory science to ensure Nigerians have access to qualitative health care services.
In his welcome address, the registrar of the council, Tosan Erhabor, said that the re-accreditation of the National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) by the South African National Accreditation Service (SANAS) to ISO 17043 was a remarkable achievement for the council.
He said it was also a triumph for every Nigerian whose health and well-being depend on the reliability of the medical diagnostics system.
‘NEQAL is a cornerstone in the architecture of quality assurance for medical laboratories in Nigeria.
‘As a specialised laboratory of MLSCN, its mission is not merely to assess laboratories but to elevate them while ensuring that the results they generate are accurate, reliable and timely, thereby reinforcing the three pillars that define the essence of quality diagnosis’, he said.
He called on the minister to make a decisive government pronouncement mandating the participation of all government and private hospitals, private laboratories, to key into MLSCN accreditation service and MLSCN External Quality Assurance Proficiency Test EQA/PT Scheme.
‘This policy will ensure that every laboratory in Nigeria will adhere to the rigorous standards.
‘Fostering a culture of accountability and consistency in diagnostics services, which will be a game changer guaranteeing every Nigerian irrespective of location receives the same high standard of diagnostics accuracy’, he said.
In his remark, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative and head of mission, Walter Kazadi, said that accredited medical laboratories are vital to the healthcare system.
Mr Kazadi, represented by Jubril Kareem, a staff in the organisation, said that they play a critical role in ensuring reliable and accurate diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and providing data for effective disease surveillance.
He said it also signifies compliance with international standards, ensuring the highest quality of laboratory services.
‘This accomplishment not only improves the quality of results but also enhances patient safety and strengthens the overall health system in Nigeria.
‘Today’s achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the laboratory professionals, partners and the government who have worked tirelessly to meet these stringent international standards.
‘It reflects your unwavering focus on excellence and your dedication to improving health outcomes for the Nigerian people’, he said.
According to him, the accreditation of these laboratories serves as an inspiration for others to strive for excellence.
‘It sets a benchmark for quality and motivates continuous improvement in laboratory services nationwide.
‘I encourage all laboratory professionals to remain committed to upholding the standards achieved through these accreditations and to continue contributing to the overall health and well-being of the nation’, Mr Kazadi said.
