NMA Tackles CBN over Circular on Importation of Medical Laboratory Equipment

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 58 Second
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday took a swipe at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a circular it issued directing that all importers of medical laboratory equipment must obtain a certificate of registration from the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). The recently elected President of NMA, Dr Kayode Obembe, warned that the circular would set a “dangerous trend in the nation’s health sector.
 
 
“The circular is very dangerous; it is completely wrong that one would have to go the MLSCN to get an approval in order to import medical laboratory equipment,”  Obembe said.
The NMA president explained that “already, importation of medical products is being regulated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).”
 
 
He observed that regulatory agencies  “are already established so that standards will be maintained, if we go on to proliferate, it is very destructive and very devastating, any action we can take, the NMA will do that, we are not going to rest because it is for saving lives.”
Obembe further told journalists that if the circular was not withdrawn, the NMA would be left with no other option than to seek for legal redress. But speaking to THISDAY, the Chief Registrar of MLSCN, Prof. Anthony Emeribe, said only anti-quality service unions would antagonise the new CBN circular.
 
 
According to Emeribe, rather than express fears about the circular, it should rather be seen as an instrument that will “enhance medical services by ensuring that medical laboratory equipment are of good quality.”
 
 
He explained that about 50 per cent of medical laboratory equipment in the country are fake, a situation he said led President Goodluck Jonathan to inaugurate the quality assurance laboratory in Lagos.
 
 
The CBN circular dated April 24, had requested importers of medical equipment to obtain certification from MLSCN before applying for any custom clearance.
 
 
Meanwhile, the NMA said it would offer its service to assist in resuscitating any of the female students abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who might need post-trauma attention.
While expressing its sympathy on the crisis, NMA assured Nigerians of its readiness if any of its service is demanded.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.