Urgent appeals have been made by stakeholders in the laboratory profession to the Federal Government to consider a review of the laws governing the practice.
In addition, they have recommended that both the federal and state governments allocate more funds towards laboratory research endeavors.
Emphasizing the importance of this action, it was mentioned that such a step could potentially address the issue of capital flight, which arises due to some Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad.
These calls were articulated during the commemoration of the 2024 World Laboratory Day by the Independent Laboratory Owners Association of Nigeria (SoTLAN) from the South West region, held in Lagos on Tuesday.
Representing the SoTLAN President, Professor Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, Mr Bolawa Gbolahan, the first Vice President, stressed the necessity for the government to reconsider the existing practices in the best interest of Nigerians.
He also highlighted the significance of fostering a testing culture among Nigerians, underscoring how laboratories play a crucial role in ensuring product quality and safety, protecting public health, and promoting economic growth.
Furthermore, he urged the federal and state governments to financially support laboratory research initiatives in order to expand the scope of public health and mitigate capital flight within the medical sector.
“Let us work collaboratively to surmount challenges, seize opportunities, and advance advancements in the realms of public health analysis and laboratory sciences,” he concluded.
During the event, Mr Ademilola Adebayo, the Chairman, reiterated that the future of public health relied heavily on the laboratories of both the present and the forthcoming years.