The Association of Medical laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the National Health Act of 2014 is fully implemented.
The association made the demand during a media chat with journalists in Owerri as it commemorates the World Biomedical Laboratory Science Day.
It also demanded that the appointment of Health Minister should be extended to the association rather than revolving just within the medical doctors.
Highlighting on the key roles of the Association in the health sector, its National President, Uche Odionyenma, said that in the health care service delivery system, no medication can be carried out on any patient without diagnosis.
He maintained that it is the duty of the Biomedical Laboratory Scientist to diagnose patients in order to ascertain the kind of sickness they are suffering from before commencement of any treatment.
Odionyenma, however, said that despite the importance of the profession in the health sector, poor policy implementation has sidelined it to the background, which according to him, gave rise to non-professionals taking up its place.
The National President added that International BLS Day is celebrated each year on every April, 15 , to educate people on the pivotal role of biomedical laboratory scientists in the early detection and accurate diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of treatment, disease surveillance and prevention.
He, however, regretted that infiltration of that particular health sector by quacks has rendered it impotent to operate as a professional body saddled with the responsibilities of delivering reliable and adequate health care services to the people.
Odionyenma remarked that the implementation of the National Health Act will help to sanitize that particular health sector given its importance in health care service delivery.
