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Lab Scientists Raise Alarm Over N’Assembly Health Bills, Warn of Risks to Patient Safety

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 30th, 2026.

Medical laboratory scientists have voiced strong opposition to proposed amendments to key health laws currently before the National Assembly, cautioning that the changes could undermine patient safety and disrupt Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory framework.

At a press briefing in Abuja, the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, described the bills as a dangerous shift away from globally accepted standards. He warned that, if passed, the proposals could weaken professional oversight and introduce avoidable risks into clinical practice.

“We are not opposed to reform,” Ifeanyi said, according to The Guardian Nigeria. “But what is on the table goes beyond reform, it threatens to reverse the gains already made in strengthening healthcare regulation.”

Central to the dispute are proposed amendments to sections of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Act. The AMLSN argues that the changes would significantly alter the composition of the council’s governing board, reducing the influence of professionals while increasing appointments subject to ministerial discretion.

Describing the move as a departure from merit-based regulation, Ifeanyi warned that placing technical oversight in the hands of non-specialists could erode standards. “Healthcare regulation must be driven by competence, not convenience,” he said.

As reported by Premium Times, the association also criticised plans to remove the requirement that the council’s chairman be a Fellow of the profession, noting that leadership in such a specialised field demands deep technical expertise.

Another contentious provision is the proposed inclusion of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on the MLSCN board. The AMLSN argued that while collaboration among health professionals is essential, merging regulatory roles could blur professional boundaries and weaken accountability.

“Collaboration should not translate into control,” Ifeanyi maintained, warning against what he described as regulatory overreach.

The group also raised concerns about provisions redefining the scope of medical laboratory science. According to the association, the proposed language creates contradictions by broadening the field on paper while limiting the role of laboratory scientists in clinical diagnosis.

“More than 70 per cent of medical decisions rely on laboratory results,” Ifeanyi noted, a point echoed in analysis by Nairametrics. “Excluding those responsible for generating that data from the diagnostic process creates confusion and potential risk.”

Beyond the MLSCN amendments, the AMLSN criticised a separate bill seeking to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, alleging that it attempts to subsume core laboratory functions under another regulatory framework. The association described the move as an overreach that could affect specialised areas such as genetic testing and molecular diagnostics.

Citing practices in countries like the United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa, the group insisted that laboratory scientists and medical doctors operate in complementary roles, each governed by distinct professional standards.

The association further warned that altering the current structure could trigger legal disputes, noting that existing frameworks have been upheld in multiple court rulings. It also highlighted potential national implications, including weakened disease surveillance systems and reduced confidence in Nigeria’s laboratory accreditation processes.

In its appeal, the AMLSN called on the National Assembly to suspend deliberations on the bills and engage stakeholders more broadly. It also urged alignment with international standards such as ISO 15189:2022 to ensure quality and safety in laboratory services.

“We must prioritise evidence over expediency,” Ifeanyi said, urging policymakers to carefully consider the long-term implications of the proposed laws.

The group maintained that its intervention is rooted in the need to protect patients and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s healthcare system, warning that decisions taken at this stage could have lasting consequences for public health.