Mr. Alex Segbefia |
Ghana’s Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, has charged
Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in the country to uphold the highest ethical
standards of the profession in order to enhance quality healthcare delivery for
all citizens.
The minister noted
that, if quality laboratory management practices were adhered to by Ghanaian laboratory
scientists, the performance of medical laboratories in Ghana would meet
international Standards.
Mr. Segbefia
said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Northern Regional Director of the
Ghana Health Service at the 2015 annual congress of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists
held in Tamale.
The congress
which was on the theme: “Ensuring effective management of Ghana
medical laboratory service in a regulated Environment”, aimed at
enhancing continues professional development as well as give scientists the
chance to deliberate on issues bothering the growth and development of biomedical
science.
The Association
is a sole professional body for all medical laboratory practitioners and
scientists in Ghana. It plays a key role in the healthcare delivery system of
Ghana by providing high standard of laboratory services to aid diagnosis,
monitoring and total management of disease conditions.
Responding to
the minister’s call, President of the Biomedical Laboratory Scientists, Thomas
Kwabena Gyampomah, also emphasized the need for government to strengthen
medical laboratories in the country for quality healthcare delivery.
While calling
for the strengthening of medical laboratories in the country, he said the processes
regarding the implementation of the National Health Laboratory Policy (NHLP) developed
in 2012 by government, must start now without any further delay.
Mr. Thomas K. Gyampomah |
The NHLP which
is currently gathering dust on the shelves of the Ministry of Health, he
observed, was impeding the growth and development of Medical Laboratory Science
in Ghana. “With that policy document, Laboratory scientists in the country will
have an autonomous directorate and be empowered to see to the total development
of the scientist”, Mr. Gyampomah stressed.
He also commended
the University for Development Studies for being the first Ghanaian university
to adopt and implement the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) harmonized
curriculum for the training of Doctors of Medical Laboratory Science within
6-years in the country.
The objective
of the WAHO shall be the attainment of the highest possible standard and
protection of health of people in the sub-region through the harmonization of
the policies of the Member States, pooling of resources, and cooperation with
one another and with others for a collective and strategic combat against health
problems of the sub-region.
Mr. Gyampomah also
said the Association supports a continues dialogue with the National Council
for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the National Accreditation Board (NAB) with
regards to the provision of accreditation to educational institutions running the
advanced level medical laboratory science programme in the country.
He, therefore,
encouraged other educational institutions with relative strength to take steps
to start the professional doctorate degree programme in the coming years.
Meanwhile, Mr.
Segbefia said government was committed to supporting biomedical scientists in
their pursuit to promote the advancement of quality and efficient medical
laboratory services towards the acquisition of optimal healthcare in the
country.
He therefore
appealed to the biomedical scientists to exercise restraint, and gave the
assurance that government was committed to resolving challenges currently
confronting their profession.
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