Proposed health reforms threaten standards — AMLSN

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has strongly opposed a new health reform bill before the National Assembly, warning that its passage could destabilise healthcare delivery, weaken regulatory standards, and ignite fresh inter-professional conflict in the sector.

The contentious proposal—Executive Bill HB:2701 and its Senate counterpart—seeks major amendments to the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Act, particularly Sections 3 and 29, which govern the council’s structure and define the scope of practice for laboratory scientists.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, AMLSN President, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, described the bill as “a dangerous regression disguised as reform,” saying it is fundamentally misaligned with global best practices.

“This bill does not represent reform; it represents regression,” he said. “It is dangerous, destabilising, and profoundly misaligned with science and global best practice.”

Concerns Over Governance Changes

A key flashpoint is the proposed restructuring of the MLSCN governing board. The existing law ensures that the council is controlled by professionals with technical expertise. However, the new bill would expand membership to include non-specialists and increase the influence of political appointees.

Ifeanyi warned that allowing non-experts to dominate such a sensitive regulatory body would erode the council’s independence.

“A regulatory system driven by politics rather than expertise is not reform; it is institutional sabotage,” he said, faulting the proposal to remove the requirement that the council chairman must be a Fellow of the profession.

The association also criticised a provision seeking to insert the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) into the MLSCN board, describing it as an unacceptable violation of global norms for independent regulation.

“Collaboration is not co-regulation. What is being proposed is structural overreach and professional capture,” Ifeanyi added.

Contradictions in Section 29

Another controversial element is the redefinition of medical laboratory science in Section 29, which expands its scope but simultaneously restricts laboratory scientists from contributing to diagnosis.

Ifeanyi noted that laboratory data drive more than 70% of clinical decisions worldwide.

“To exclude laboratory scientists from diagnostic contributions is to separate evidence from its origin and institutionalise confusion,” he said.

Fears Over Encroachment by Medical Practitioners

The AMLSN also faulted provisions in a related bill—HB:2695, which seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act. The association alleged that the bill attempts to reassign core laboratory functions such as molecular diagnostics, genetic testing, and assisted reproductive technologies to medical practitioners.

Ifeanyi labelled the move “a stealth-driven legislative overreach” that could endanger patient safety and reduce the quality of specialised diagnostic services.

Legal and Global Implications

Nigeria’s current MLSCN Act has been upheld in more than 22 judgments of the National Industrial Court, forming a substantial body of legal precedent. Experts warn that the new amendments could trigger regulatory conflicts and uncertainty.

The association stressed that the proposals also conflict with international standards such as ISO 15189:2022, which guides global laboratory quality and competence.

Nigeria has made significant progress in strengthening laboratory capacity, especially in the wake of the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks. Analysts warn that weakening regulatory structures now could reverse these gains.

AMLSN Calls for Halt to Legislative Process

The association urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership to suspend the legislative process and convene broader stakeholder engagement.

“This is not about professional rivalry. It is about patient safety and the survival of a critical pillar of Nigeria’s healthcare system,” Ifeanyi said. “Healthcare must be guided by evidence, not expediency.”

He stressed that any reform must align with science, international standards, and established legal frameworks.

“Deviation that weakens standards is not innovation; it is the exportation of risk to citizens,” he warned.