Medical lab scientists warn N’Assembly over controversial Health Bills

2026-03-29 - 06:53

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja Medical laboratory scientists in the country have raised a red flag over proposed amendments to key health laws before the National Assembly, describing the move as a “grave threat” to patient safety, professional integrity, and the nation’s healthcare system. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria ,AMLSN, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, launched a scathing critique of Executive Bill HB:2701 and related Senate proposals, warning that their passage would trigger regulatory chaos and undermine global standards in medical laboratory practice. “We are not here to resist reform,” Ifeanyi declared. He added: “We are here to prevent a structural misstep with far-reaching consequences. What is being proposed is not reform , it is regression.” At the heart of the controversy are amendments to Sections 3 and 29 of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Act, which the AMLSN says would dismantle the profession’s regulatory independence and hand undue control to political and non-specialist interests. If passed, the bill would restructure the MLSCN governing board in a way that reduces professional representation to a minority, while increasing appointments influenced by the Minister of Health. Ifeanyi described the move as “a political construct imposed on a scientific system,” warning that it would erode competence-driven regulation. “Inclusivity without competence is institutional sabotage,” he said, insisting that healthcare regulation must remain firmly rooted in technical expertise rather than political considerations. The AMLSN also faulted the proposed removal of the requirement that the council’s chairman be a Fellow of the profession, cautioning that such a move would weaken leadership and accountability in a highly specialized field. “One cannot lead what one does not understand,” Ifeanyi stressed. According to AMLSN, “Regulation without scientific competence is systemic endangerment.” Equally contentious is the proposed inclusion of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in the MLSCN board , a move the association says violates global norms of professional autonomy and amounts to “regulatory capture.” “Collaboration is not co-regulation. What is being proposed is structural overreach, “Ifeanyj said. On Section 29, the AMLSN described the bill as “scientifically incoherent,” arguing that while it broadly defines medical laboratory science, it simultaneously strips practitioners of diagnostic authority , a contradiction the group says could create legal confusion and increase patient risk. “Over 70 per cent of clinical decisions rely on laboratory evidence,” Ifeanyi noted. He said,“To exclude those who generate and validate that evidence from diagnosis is to institutionalise confusion.” The association further condemned provisions in a separate bill, HB:2695, which seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, accusing lawmakers of attempting to “smuggle” core laboratory science functions into a framework dominated by medical and dental practice. Describing the move as “audacious legislative overreach,” the AMLSN warned that it threatens specialized fields such as molecular diagnostics, genetic testing, and assisted reproductive technologies. “This will not stand,” Ifeanyi said firmly. Citing global best practices in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa, the AMLSN maintained that medical laboratory scientists and physicians play complementary , not interchangeable ,roles in healthcare delivery. The group also pointed to over 22 National Industrial Court judgments affirming the current MLSCN Act, warning that the proposed amendments could spark legal conflicts, judicial inconsistencies, and regulatory instability. Beyond professional concerns, Ifeanyi warned of wider national implications, including weakened disease surveillance systems, compromised laboratory accreditation standards, and erosion of Nigeria’s global health credibility. “These are not speculative fears. They are predictable consequences grounded in science, “he said. The AMLSN called for the immediate suspension of all legislative action on the bills, demanding broader stakeholder consultation and alignment with international standards such as ISO 15189:2022. In a direct appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly, the association urged lawmakers to halt the process in the interest of national health security. “History will remember not just the laws you pass, but the risks you prevented,” Ifeanyi said. He concluded with a stark warning: “A health system stripped of independent regulation is a system primed for failure. These bills must not stand.” Reiterating its stance, the AMLSN emphasized that its opposition is not driven by professional rivalry but by a commitment to safeguarding patients and preserving a critical pillar of Nigeria’s healthcare system. “Healthcare must be guided by evidence, not expediency.Nigeria must choose precision over politics, “Ifeanyi further said.