The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, MLSCN, has rolled out an external quality assurance, EQA, programme to enhance the quality of laboratory test results in Nigeria.

The council is carrying out the exercise in collaboration with OneWorld Accuracy, a Canada-based firm currently operating in 23 African countries, said Erhabor Tosan, the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN.

According to a press statement by the Ministry of Health on Monday, Mr. Tosan, disclosed this when he led a delegation to visit the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, in his office.

The MLSN is the statutory regulatory body for the practice of Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria, including the accreditation of medical laboratories.

Mr. Tosan said the EQA programme is part of the five-year strategic plan (2014-2018) of the council.

He said that the scheme has seen to an increase in panel menu from six to 250 in Nigeria and local production of the panels, which include HIV-serology dry tube samples, pregnancy test kit, malaria rapid test kit, malaria slides as well as TB slides.

He urged the minister to direct teaching hospitals and medical centres in Nigeria to key into the scheme to ensure the generation of reliable, accurate and cost-effective laboratory test results.

Responding, the minister hailed the initiative as a right step in the right direction.

‘’We in the health sector are not relenting in our efforts to build the health system. Laboratory services is pertinent to what we are doing, so any initiative to improve the system is welcome,’’ Mr. Ehanire said.

He noted that quality and accuracy in diagnosis will go a long way in improving patient care and curb healthcare spending in the country.