It is necessary to examine the agitation of some health workers in Nigeria. This agitation which have persistently fuel disharmory in the Nigerian Health sector through plain brigadary and evoking of unnecessary strikes.
Even though MLS may have recently through legislative means change what they are called in Nigeria in many other climes they are still referred to as Medical Technologist, Clinical Scientist, and Clinical Laboratory Technologist. Yes Technologist, even though the other people attain such through bachelor degree also.
Interesting in many countries such degree are attained with just 3,4 or 5 years of multiple semesters work. The last year is clinical attachment under the various program. In United States most centres run 4 years program! Why 5 years in Nigeria? Should it be same duration as stuff loaded Pharmacy course or compete with Mighty Medicine course in term of duration? Should students file class action against their council for subjecting them to long duration of program which may not be of “International best practice” in a strike riddle system?
Note that the last clinical year in US program is with little or no compensation and they work as full time employee. Could it be that MLS in Nigeria is over indulged?
In US, it is same body that accredit pathologists who are doctors that accredit Medical laboratory Scientists just as same body regulate pharmacists, Pharmacy technician and pharmacy technology in Nigeria. This was after the merger of American Society for Clinical Pathology and National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel. Could the emergence of supra-body for Nigerian pathologists and MLS sanitize our laboratory in Nigeria? Would it bring about unity of purpose in Nigerian laboratory system and fast track the necessary development?
Nowhere in the world do Medical Laboratory Scientists work in isolation since their test is not an end in itself. The results are tools in the hand of the physicians. The laboratory is like the ward- there are doctors and nurses while in the laboratory especially Tertiary institutions the clinical laboratories are domain of pathologists, Medical Laboratory Scientists and Medical laboratory Technicians working as a team!.
Residency training for MLS is almost non-existent in most countries of the world. If there is postgraduate program it is PhD route. Why would it be different in resource constraints environment like Nigeria? Why will we not follow the most economic path for health manpower production? World Health Organisation does not even talk about MLS per population ratio!
It is not global common standard practice to work alone under autonomy they ask for. They either work in Clinical laboratory, Hospital, Physician’s Office, Reference Laboratories, Biotechnology laboratories and Industrial laboratory etc.
What specializing is necessary again for Nigerian MLS? After 5 years they are either microbiology MLS, Clinical Chemistry MLS, Hematology MLS and Morbid Anatomist MLS. Isn't that specializing? Those ends in itself are what is necessary to work in any hospital Just as a nurse does not require PhD to work on the ward! Nurses too don't spend donkey years to specialize, one or two years of post basic and they can work in any specialist team.
Should MLS join force with gateman and security men in name of JOESHU to cause health Industry disharmony in Nigeria?
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