Lafia — The management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, in Nasarawa State has concluded plans to have a private firm set up a laboratory within the hospital's premises.

Dr. Joshua Gyang, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, told Daily Trust on phone yesterday that the management has already received what he called an express approval from the Ministry of Health in Abuja, to allow PathCare, a private firm, to set up a private laboratory within the premises of the centre.

Dr. Gyang said the initiative will be beneficial to patients as the laboratory is expected to have necessary equipments for tests.

But some stakeholders in Keffi are agitated by the initiative, saying it may affect the system negatively.

The stakeholders, under various groups including Keffi Development Foundation (KDF), Keffi Development Forum (KDF), Keffi Concerned Group (KCG), KEffi Youths Forum (KYF) and three other organizations, after their meetings vowed to take legal action to stop take off of what they described as a private business concern within the premises of a government owned health facility.

Alhaji Abubakar Madaki, president of Keffi Development Foundation told Daily Trust that the organization met and resolved to mandate its committee on health to investigate and ascertain the authenticity of the information, and make recommendations.

Abdullahi Adamu, vice chairman of Keffi Concerned Group, also told Daily Trust that his forum met and set up a committee with the mandate to look into the matter.

However, Dr. Gyang, the CMD, said he is aware that "certain persons are interested in creating bad blood because of this initiative." He said his investigation has shown that laboratory staff of the FMC are not happy with the development as according to him, it would create competition for them.