The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has strongly opposed a controversial health reform bill currently before the National Assembly of Nigeria, warning that its passage could destabilize the country’s healthcare system and endanger patient safety.
The proposed legislation, titled Executive Bill HB:2701, seeks to amend sections of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Act, particularly Sections 3 and 29, which outline the governance structure and professional scope of medical laboratory science in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, AMLSN National President, Casmir Ifeanyi, described the bill as a dangerous setback for the health sector, warning that it contradicts global best practices.
“This bill does not represent reform; it represents regression. It is dangerous, destabilising, and profoundly misaligned with science and global best practice,” Ifeanyi said.
The proposed amendment seeks to restructure the governing board of the MLSCN, the statutory body responsible for regulating laboratory science practice in Nigeria.
Under the existing law, professionals in the field dominate the council’s leadership to ensure technical expertise and professional oversight. However, the new proposal would expand the board to include non-specialists and increase the influence of political appointees.
Ifeanyi warned that such changes could weaken regulatory standards and compromise professional independence.
A regulatory system driven by politics rather than expertise is not reform; it is institutional sabotage. Leadership in medical laboratory science cannot be detached from scientific competence,” he stated.
He also criticized a provision that would remove the requirement for the council’s chairman to be a Fellow of the profession, describing it as a major vulnerability that could allow non-experts to control sensitive aspects of the healthcare system.
The AMLSN further faulted the bill’s proposal to include the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in the governing board of the MLSCN.
According to Ifeanyi, such a move violates established global standards that require independent professional regulatory bodies.
“Collaboration is not co-regulation. What is being proposed is not synergy, but structural overreach and professional capture, he said.
He noted that in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa, professional regulatory bodies maintain clear boundaries, while collaboration occurs mainly at the clinical practice level.
Another contentious aspect of the bill concerns Section 29, which broadly defines medical laboratory science but limits the role of laboratory scientists in diagnosis.
Ifeanyi said this contradicts scientific realities, noting that laboratory evidence forms the foundation of most medical decisions.
“Over 70 per cent of clinical decisions depend on laboratory-generated evidence. To exclude laboratory scientists from diagnostic contributions is to separate evidence from its ownership and institutionalise confusion, he said.
The association also criticised a related bill, HB:2695, which proposes amendments to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.
According to the AMLSN, the bill attempts to place specialised laboratory functions—including molecular diagnostics, genetic testing and assisted reproductive technologies—under the control of medical practitioners.
Ifeanyi described the move as a stealth-driven legislative overreach” that could undermine specialised expertise and ultimately threaten patient care.
Nigeria’s current MLSCN Act, Cap M25, 2004, has been upheld in more than 22 judgments by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, creating a strong body of legal precedent.
Experts warn that altering the law without proper alignment could lead to regulatory conflicts and legal uncertainty within the healthcare sector.
The AMLSN also cautioned that the amendments may weaken Nigeria’s compliance with international laboratory standards such as ISO 15189:2022, which regulates quality and competence in medical laboratories worldwide.
Laboratory diagnostics currently influence between 60 and 70 per cent of clinical decisions globally, making laboratory services a critical component of public health systems.
In recent years, Nigeria has expanded its laboratory capacity following outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19, with investments aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and strengthening disease surveillance.
Analysts warn that weakening regulatory oversight at this stage could reverse those gains.
The AMLSN therefore urged Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to suspend the legislative process and allow for broader consultations with stakeholders in the health sector.
“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.
He added that any reform of the laboratory science regulatory framework must align with scientific evidence, global standards and existing legal structures.
Deviation that weakens standards is not innovation; it is the exportation of risk to citizens, he warned.
