Monday, November 2, 2015

Laboratory Scientists Charged To Uphold Ethical Standards


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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