Blood Service Commission Seeks Collaborative Regulation of Blood Establishments with Laboratory Council

The National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) is seeking to collaborate with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) for the regulation of blood-related establishments. Dr. Eneye Suberu, the Acting Director-General of the Commission, expressed this during a courtesy visit to the council’s offices in Abuja.

The purpose of the visit was to convey appreciation for the contributions of MLSCN in the health sector and introduce the commission’s law. The law empowers the NBSC to regulate blood services nationwide.

Dr. Suberu emphasized the importance of the council’s support, given their extensive experience in regulatory matters. He proposed mutual collaboration, where medical laboratory facilities registering with MLSCN would also need to register their blood service component with NBSC, and vice versa.

This collaborative effort aims to prioritize patient interests and ensure that blood establishments and medical laboratory facilities are mutually registered and in compliance with both agencies. Dr. Suberu noted that the NBSC is committed to eliminating inter-professional rivalry among health professionals, emphasizing the need for unity to provide quality healthcare services.

Dr. Tosan Erhabor, the Executive Officer of the council, commended the NBSC for seeking collaboration. He assured the visiting team that MLSCN, driven by principles of quality, safety, and sustainability, is open to collaborating with like-minded organizations to fulfill patient demands for quality services. Erhabor emphasized that patient interests should remain paramount to all health professionals and expressed the council’s willingness to explore collaboration possibilities.

Erhabor suggested that both teams develop a framework for their collaboration, and they could meet at a later date to harmonize their positions before formalizing a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaborative effort between the NBSC and MLSCN will contribute to the regulation and quality assurance of blood-related establishments, enhancing healthcare services in Nigeria.