FG Signs MOU With Laboratory For Diagnostic Services

By Florence Adewale

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a private Laboratory network to enhance diagnostic services in the country.

At the occasion in Abuja, the Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Dr. Tosan Erharbor, said this step was necessary to
close the gap in poor laboratory services, as there are fewer than thirty accredited standard laboratory centers in the country.

He stated that the collaboration between the agency and the FG would significantly impact changing the narratives of poor health indices, discouraging health tourism, and potentially saving the country the $2 billion reportedly spent annually by citizens seeking better healthcare.

According to him “The significance of this partnership between MLSCN and Bloom Public Health also lies in our determination to ensure that it enhances the quality of healthcare in Nigeria in a significant and verifiable manner. The ultimate beneficiaries as indicated earlier, would be the patients as the partnership would further trigger a preponderance of accurate timely treatments and improved healthcare outcomes”.

Dr. Erharbor explained further, “The partnership intends to leverage Bloom Public Health’s continental reach, experience with donor funded projects and technical expertise, with the MLSCN’s institutional base, network of scientists, and proper context for the benefit of public health of Nigerians. It will, in the long run, ensure that we have adequate infrastructure and technically sound scientists across our health system”.

Prof. Chimezie Anyakora, who signed the MoU on behalf of the private sector, explained that no government resources would be used but pledged to depend on partner donations to ensure the laboratory system yields better results for an effective healthcare system that would fast-track development.

The partnership, a long-term transformation of both private and public laboratories across the country, will immediately focus on upscaling the capacity of the laboratories at the primary healthcare level.

Edited By Grace Namiji