Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Achievers University Owo.
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kampala International University, Uganda.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Jan 12;103(2):e36869. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036869.
This article explores the pivotal role of medical laboratory services in enhancing the quality of healthcare in Nigeria. Medical laboratory science is a comprehensive field that involves a diverse array of diagnostic and analytical procedures. These procedures are of utmost importance in the provision of patient care, the early diagnosis of diseases, and the promotion of public health. The article elucidates the progression of medical laboratory services in Nigeria, tracing the transformation from the role of laboratory assistants to that of medical laboratory scientists. It underscores the significance of these services in informing healthcare decision-making. The essay also discusses the diverse obstacles encountered by the medical laboratory profession in Nigeria. The issues encompass insufficiencies in infrastructure, obsolescence of equipment, absence of a coherent policy framework, slow workforce expansion, persistent labor strikes, and a scarcity of trained specialists. The aforementioned issues not only impede the effectiveness of laboratory services, but also have extensive ramifications for healthcare provision throughout the nation. In order to address these difficulties and improve the standard of healthcare, the essay presents practical solutions and a thorough strategy. Furthermore, it underscores the significance of augmenting financial resources, mitigating corruption, and tackling wage inequalities in order to effectively retain medical laboratory specialists. The action plan is structured into distinct phases, each delineated by specified dates and delineating the duties of various stakeholders, such as government entities, healthcare establishments, professional associations, and diagnostic enterprises.
本文探讨了医学实验室服务在提高尼日利亚医疗保健质量方面的关键作用。医学实验室科学是一个综合性领域，涉及广泛的诊断和分析程序。这些程序对于提供患者护理、早期疾病诊断和促进公共卫生至关重要。文章阐述了尼日利亚医学实验室服务的发展历程，从实验室助理的角色转变为医学实验室科学家的角色。它强调了这些服务在医疗保健决策中的重要性。文章还讨论了尼日利亚医学实验室专业人员遇到的各种障碍。这些问题包括基础设施不足、设备陈旧、缺乏连贯的政策框架、劳动力扩张缓慢、持续的劳工罢工以及缺乏训练有素的专家。上述问题不仅影响了实验室服务的效果，而且对全国的医疗保健服务也产生了广泛的影响。为了解决这些困难并提高医疗保健水平，本文提出了切实可行的解决方案和全面的策略。此外，它强调了增加财政资源、减少腐败和解决工资不平等问题以有效留住医学实验室专家的重要性。该行动计划分为不同阶段，每个阶段都规定了具体日期，并规定了政府实体、医疗机构、专业协会和诊断企业等各利益攸关方的职责。
