Nigeria NMA Threatens Legal Action Against Laboratory Council Of Nigeria Over Closure of Facilities By Lab. Council of Nigeria

Rabiu Omaku

The Nigeria Medical Association Nasarawa State Chapter has threatened to institute a legal battle against Laboratory Council of Nigeria over the ongoing closure of facilities by them.

 

 

The Chairman, Dr. Bulus Umaru told newsmen that six facilities belonging to registered members of the Association had been sealed by the council.

 

 

He, however, maintained that the council had no justification for sealing off facilities belonging to his members since they were not a regulatory body for doctors or dental practitioners.

 

 

Stating further that professional Association in the health sector has its regulatory body saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring adherence to the standard.

 

 

“Like ours doctors, it is the Medical and Dental Council that regulates our activities both in public and private hospitals,” he affirmed.

 

 

The Chairman described the invasion of the affected facilities by the council as an affront capable of breaching the peace being enjoyed in the health sector in the state.

 

 

Bulus explained that it was only the Medical and Dental Council, and the State or Federal Ministries of Health, for some reasons that have power to enter a doctor’s facility and seal it but not Laboratory Council of Nigeria.

 

 

He maintained that those members, whose facilities were sealed by the council, were duly registered by the state ministry of health and the Medical and Dental Council to operate.

 

 

“We are appealing to the state ministry of health, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to prevail on the council to desist from further harassment of our members in the interest of peace.

 

 

“We will not hesitate to take legal action against the council should they fail to heed our plea,” he said.

 

 

He said the state ministry of health had so far prevailed on the council to unseal the facilities but to no avail.

 

 

Umaru noted that the council had approached the state ministry of health requesting for permission to visit laboratory technicians only to clamp down on the facilities of its registered members.

 

 

Officials of the laboratory council as at press time declined to answer any fielded questions by Journalists on the development.