Nigeria's Medical Laboratory Scientists Accuse NMA, MDCAN of Contempt of Court

The last words may not have been heard on the current hiatus in the Nigerian health sector with the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) accusing the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) of contempt of court.

In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG.com, Dr. Godswill C. Okpara, National President, AMLSN, said both organizations erred by going to press on an issue that is currently before the industrial court.

“The Association of Medical laboratory Scientists of Nigeria wishes to bring to the attention of the general public, especially stakeholders in the Health sector, the pendency of the above case at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja (Court 21). The said case has readied advanced stage.

“In view of the above, various comments and inferences expressed in numerous newspaper publications and others listed hereunder are therefore subjudice. They are the issues presently pending before the Honourable Court for judicial pronouncement,” he said in the statement.

The statement was a response to the under-listed publications:

Press statement ~ the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) as contained in the Guardian Newspaper of Tuesday, April 30; 2013 (page 89)

Press statement by the Nigerian Medical Association) University College Chapter by Professor Adelolann Malomo as contained in ThisDay, April, 2013.

Advertorial Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria [MDCAN), University College Hospital, lbadan as contained in The Guardian newspaper of Wednesday, May 8,2013 (page 44) and Punch newspaper of Wednesday,.May 82013 (page 621 signed by Professor J.T. Arotiba.

He advised against using the publication to deceive members of the public and expressed his association’s confidence in the judiciary.

“As a stickler to the Rule of law, we have absolute confidence in the judiciary and firmly believe in the due process,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian health sector has been engulfed in an unending inter-professional conflicts and various attempts by past administrations had met stiff opposition. The latest effort was the proposed National Health Bill which was rejected by the president and returned to the National Assembly for resolution and harmonization of grey areas.