The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has expressed strong opposition to a controversial health reform bill currently before the National Assembly, warning that its passage could destabilize Nigeria’s healthcare system, compromise patient safety, and ignite renewed inter-professional tensions.
The bill, titled Executive Bill HB:2701, alongside a corresponding Senate version, seeks to amend key provisions of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Act, particularly Sections 3 and 29, which outline the council’s governance structure and define the scope of medical laboratory practice in Nigeria. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, AMLSN National President, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, described the proposed changes as “a dangerous regression disguised as reform,” emphasizing that the bill is “misaligned with global best practices and inimical to Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.” He warned that the legislation, if enacted, would threaten professional independence and undermine regulatory standards.
Central to the controversy is the proposed restructuring of the MLSCN governing board. Currently, the council’s governance ensures that technical experts dominate decision-making, maintaining professional oversight. The proposed amendment, however, would expand the board to include non-specialists and increase the influence of political appointees. Ifeanyi argued that such changes would allow political considerations to override scientific competence, describing the shift as “institutional sabotage” rather than reform. He specifically criticized the removal of the requirement that the council’s chairman be a Fellow of the profession, noting that this could allow non-experts to control critical aspects of healthcare regulation.
The AMLSN also opposed provisions that would involve the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in MLSCN governance, stating that such inclusion violates internationally accepted standards for independent professional regulation. “Collaboration is not co-regulation,” Ifeanyi said. He pointed out that countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa maintain strict boundaries between professional regulatory bodies, allowing collaboration only in clinical practice, not governance.
Another key concern is a contradiction in Section 29 of the bill, which broadly defines the role of medical laboratory scientists but simultaneously restricts their participation in diagnostic decision-making. AMLSN warned that this inconsistency could limit the effectiveness of laboratory professionals, undermining patient care and compromising the integrity of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
The association called on lawmakers to reconsider the bill, urging amendments that protect professional independence, ensure scientific oversight, and align Nigeria’s regulatory framework with global best practices.
