The Lagos state government said it has sealed a private medical laboratory for conducting COVID-19 tests without approval.
The state Ministry of Health, via its official Twitter handle @LSMOH, on Saturday identified the laboratory as Acouns Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, located in Ikoyi.
According to the ministry, the laboratory’s activities pose danger to the community and its emplyees.
The ministry said, “It is illegal to manage COVID-19 cases outside of an accredited facility.
“We implore the public not to go for test or treatment in a private facility that has not been accredited by government.
“It is dangerous and it might put you at more risk.”
The ministry said that the laboratory was sealed through one of its agencies- Health Facility Monitoring Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA; assuring that the government would continue to do its best to ensure that health facilities in the state adhere strictly to standards that guarantee the health and wellbeing of Lagos citizens.
See the tweet:
YESTERDAY, @LSMOH THROUGH @HEFAMAA_LASG SEALED A PRIVATE LABORATORY LOCATED ON BANANA ISLAND, IKOYI FOR CARRYING OUT #COVID19 TESTS WITHOUT THE REQUIRED GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. THE LAB; ACOUNS MEDICAL LABORATORY AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE WAS ALSO SITUATED IN A PHARMACY! @FOLLOWLASG PIC.TWITTER.COM/KKMZXYDBFQ
— LSMOH (@LSMOH) JULY 11, 2020
Recall that the state government had, on June 29, announced the approval of seven private laboratories as COVID-19 testing centres.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the approved laboratories were selected through a rigorous accreditation process.
Abayomi said the accredited private laboratories include: Total Medical Services, SynLab, 54 Gene, Medbury Medical Services, Biologix Medical Services, O2 Medical Services, and Clina Lancet Laboratories.