Members of the National University of Science and Technology worked in a COVID‑19 laboratory testing centre in Zimbabwe on April 25, 2020 (Photo: AFP).
On Wednesday, the Federal Government launched an online registration system for medical laboratories in Nigeria to improve service delivery. Dr. Tosan Erhabor, Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, announced the initiative in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders and the agency’s automation consultants, led by Prof. Effiong Akpan of the University of Calabar. He urged stakeholders to take advantage of the new framework to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, speed of service, and data management.
Erhabor explained that the meeting allowed participants to observe and critique the ongoing digitalisation of the laboratory registration process. “This is the latest step in moving council processes from manual to digital platforms,” he said. “Despite our limited resources, the council has successfully digitised licensure, examinations, indexing, accreditation services, and external quality assurance, and now laboratory registration.” He encouraged laboratory proprietors to continue collaborating with the council, noting that they can now register their facilities seamlessly from any location without traveling to the council’s headquarters in Abuja. “Automation has raised our profile among stakeholders, and we must commend the consultants for a job well done,” he added.
Prof. Akpan praised the council’s management for transitioning formerly manual processes to a digital environment, thereby enhancing service delivery despite economic challenges. “My team and I are proud to be associated with the council, and we encourage other agencies to emulate this approach,” he said, expressing confidence that stakeholders would share pride in the council’s efforts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that in September 2022 the federal government threatened to shut down unregistered medical laboratories nationwide, warning the council not to relent or rest on its laurels in fulfilling its statutory duties.
Comments are closed for this story.