Association demands improved medical lab services
NAN-HG-10
Laboratories
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, July 6, 2017(NAN) The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has called for improved medical laboratory services in Nigeria to strengthen healthcare delivery system.
Alhaji Toyosi Raheem, National President of AMLSN, made this call on the sidelines of the 2017 Symposium of the association in Lagos on Thursday.
The theme of the symposium is: “Funding for Accreditation Process in Medical Diagnostic and Research Laboratories in Nigeria’’.
According to Raheem, the quality of laboratory results impact positively on diagnosis of health conditions, which eventually consolidates quality healthcare services.
“The quality of a clinical establishment depends on the competences and qualities of its medical laboratories.
“If you have a giant hospital with a deficient laboratory, that hospital will be performing below optimal expectation.
“When the quality of laboratories is enhanced, it facilitates quality diagnosis of patients, whether people that are sick or those who want to check their health status.
“So, once you have a very good laboratory in a health institution, the quality of service of such institution will be outstanding.’’
Mrs Maureen Aniedobe, Chairperson, AMLSN, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Chapter, said: “The major aim of this gathering is to update ourselves academically and to deliberate on the present happenings in the industry.
“We also have to re-position ourselves to play our roles as laboratory scientists and there are certain decisions to be taken.’’
According to Aniedobe, the association is also seeking accreditation and funding.
“Funding has been an issue for accreditation and that is why funding is the theme of today’s programme.
“To attain this accreditation feat, funding is required because quality is expensive; AMLSN NIMR chapter has a five-star status but what remains is the accreditation.
“There is need to eradicate misdiagnosis and once laboratories get accredited, the margin of error is reduced.
“The minimal margin of error that can be accepted in medical laboratory is one per cent; some people even say it should be zero per cent.
“So, when you do not have those internationally required processes in place, when errors occur, they can go undetected and the effects are grave,’’ she said.
Aniedobe said there were benefits to getting accreditation.
“When you are internationally accredited, it means that in any part of the country or outside Nigeria, when your result is generated and presented anywhere in the world, it will be accepted.
“This is because there are requirements, audit assessments and conditions to be fulfilled before getting accreditation.
“Also, with the accreditation, organisation such as WHO will want to collaborate with you because it shows that you are competent.’’
Aniedo called on the Federal Government, NGOs and corporate bodies to partner with laboratories in enhancing healthcare delivery system in the country. (NAN)
VIV/MO/MST
Edited by Morayo Omolade/Muhammad Suleiman Tola