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Four illegal medical laboratories operating in Benin City were recently shut down by the inspection and accreditation team.....
Four illegal medical laboratories operating in Benin City were recently shut down by the inspection and accreditation team of the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).
The Registrar/Secretary of MLSCN Board, Lady Elizabeth Okonkwo ordered the immediate closure of the four illegal laboratories and the arrest of the owners' when she led other members of the team on an inspection visit to some private medical laboratories in the state with a view to stamping out quackery from the profession.
According to her, the national team, in collaboration with the state team, has commenced a one week inspection visit of private medical laboratories in the state, which was taking place simultaneously nation wide.
Lady Okonkwo remarked that this was the first time the team was visiting the state, and added that the inspection visit was to ensure that operators and owners of private medical laboratories in the country met and conformed with the accreditation standard required by the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, as well as regulate and control the practice in Nigeria in line with Acc II of 2003.
The MLSCN boss remarked that, the visit was also aimed at stamping out the practice of quackery, illegal and mushroom medical laboratories and ensure that private medical laboratories produced results that were reproducible, accurate and reliable for easy diagnosis and management of patients' health.
Lady Okonkwo said that the council was interested in enhancing the medical well-being of the people, hence it had embarked on this life-saving exercise, by sealing-up four laboratories outlets suspected to be manned by quacks and unprofessional persons, who were out to deceive, trick and exploit unsuspecting victims, who patronise them out of ignorance.
Lady Okonkwo, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of co-operation and hospitality accorded her and members of her team by the state government, even as she sued for its sustenance.
Also speaking, the National President of MLSCN, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, said the inspection visit by the national team was geared towards ensuring that the owners of medical laboratories used genuine equipment to diagnose their patients.
Prof. Agbonlahor, who is the former Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, said the exercise was also aimed at sanitising the practice and ensuring that the existing laboratories met the accreditation requirements of the MLSCN, which according to him was the body that controls the medical laboratory practice in Nigeria.