Blood Merchandising: Council Withdraws Licence, Raids Facilities in Delta

For alleged involvement in illegal blood banking and blood merchandising in Delta State, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has commenced disciplinary and regulatory actions against a medical laboratory scientist, Mr Adije Reginald Uchenna.

The scientist, identified with registration number RA 12978, is linked to activities described as serious violations of public health standards and professional ethics.

The council stated that the accused practitioner’s licence had been placed on “administrative hold” pending the conclusion of statutory disciplinary procedures in accordance with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act and existing professional regulations.

In a public notice issued by the council’s acting registrar and chief executive officer, Donald Ibe Ofili, on Monday, the agency disclosed that preliminary investigations and interrogation proceedings implicates Uchenna.

According to the statement, MLSCN has also launched targeted inspections and compliance assessments on facilities allegedly connected to the reported illegal operations in Delta State.

The council warned that illegal blood banking, unauthorised laboratory operations, blood merchandising, quackery and other unethical medical laboratory practices pose grave dangers to patient safety and the integrity of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

“The Council reiterates that illegal blood banking, unauthorised laboratory operations, blood merchandising, quackery, and other unethical practices constitute serious violations of public health standards and professional ethics,” Ofili stated.

“Such acts compromise patient safety, diagnostic integrity, and the quality of healthcare delivery.”

MLSCN further warned healthcare institutions and laboratory practitioners across the country to strictly adhere to approved professional standards, quality assurance protocols and regulatory guidelines governing medical laboratory science practice in Nigeria.

The Council stressed that only duly qualified and licensed Medical Laboratory Scientists are legally authorised to practise in the country, while all blood collection, screening, storage and transfusion-related services must comply with approved national standards.

The Council also declared a “zero-tolerance policy” against quackery, unauthorised practice and “all forms of unwholesome medical laboratory practices.”

Reaffirming its commitment to sanitising Nigeria’s diagnostics sector, the council said it would continue to intensify oversight measures aimed at protecting public health and promoting ethical and globally compliant laboratory practices nationwide.

The MLSCN is a Nigerian statutory regulatory body established under Cap M25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, with responsibility for regulating medical laboratory science practice and accreditation of medical laboratory services across the country.