Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has charged healthcare professionals to operate strictly within their areas of training and competence as part of measures to strengthen the fight against quackery in the state’s health sector.
Ayuk gave the charge on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, when he received a delegation of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Cross River State Branch, led by its Chairman, Mr. Prince Osim Ogar, at the Ministry of Health in Calabar.
Receiving the document, Ayuk stressed the importance of harmony and collaboration among healthcare professionals, noting that every cadre had clearly defined responsibilities which must be respected for the health system to function effectively.
“We want a system that is harmonious. We want partners in laboratory function to work together, each aligning with his own duties, but all towards one goal,” the Commissioner said.
He explained that quackery was not necessarily about a person’s educational background, but rather involved performing duties or procedures for which one was not professionally qualified.
“Quackery doesn’t mean you have not gone to school. Quackery means you are doing something that you are not qualified to do. Everybody should do his own work,” Ayuk stated.
The Commissioner further emphasised that healthcare delivery was a team effort requiring professionals to respect the boundaries of their respective technical cadres, adding that “as a team, there are certain things you cannot multitask.”
He said strict adherence to professional scope of practice was essential to ensuring accurate diagnosis, patient safety and quality healthcare delivery, while urging healthcare workers to uphold the standards attached to their respective professions.
Speaking on behalf of the AMLSN, Ogar commended Ayuk and the Ministry of Health for their efforts to strengthen the state’s health system and ensure more effective service delivery.
The AMLSN chairman particularly commended the recent employment of a significant number of medical laboratory scientists into the state Ministry of Health, describing the development as a positive step towards strengthening diagnostic services in Cross River.
Ogar said the association was committed to collaborating with the Ministry in addressing regulatory and professional gaps that could undermine the quality of medical laboratory services and expose patients to avoidable risks.
He formally presented the comprehensive position paper to the Commissioner, outlining strategies to strengthen regulatory enforcement, improve professional standards and safeguard public health, particularly in diagnostic services, while addressing professional gaps that could expose patients to the risks associated with unqualified practice.
By Kingsley Agim
