House C’ttee to enrol Lab Council in trade portal to curb fakes
By Franca Ofili
The House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services has announced that the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria will be enrolled in the trade portal to identify fake medical equipment entering the country.
Dr Amos Magaji, Chairman of the committee, made this statement during an oversight visit to the council in Abuja on Monday.
Magaji emphasised that the council’s inclusion in the trade portal would help monitor and identify equipment that was not authorised for import into Nigeria.
He noted that, for the council to fulfil its mandate, it must have offices across the country, as the current 12 offices were insufficient.
“The council must be provided with the necessary budgetary provisions, as its primary responsibility is monitoring, especially with the proliferation of unqualified laboratories across the country,” Magaji said.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring that personnel handling laboratory procedures were properly trained to deliver accurate results.
Regarding accreditation, Magaji highlighted the need for both public and private laboratory facilities to undergo regular accreditation, ensuring that Nigerian lab scientists could practice confidently anywhere in the world.
He emphasised that laboratories must meet established standards to guarantee reliable results.
Magaji also pointed out that any sample tested in Nigeria should yield the same results if tested elsewhere globally, ensuring the credibility of Nigeria’s lab results.
Addressing challenges, Magaji said that the council’s Act, amended in 2003, was now outdated and needed revision to better address modern laboratory practices.
Prof. Tosan Erhabot, Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council, added that once enrolled in the portal, the council would have the capability to verify the authenticity of equipment entering the country.
He stated, “Through our system, we will know if the equipment is validated or not, and it will not be allowed into the country.”
Erhabot also expressed the council’s intent to collaborate with state governments and local regulatory agencies to strengthen their operations and capacity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
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