Resource hospital labs with modern diagnostic equipment – GABMLS charges government

The Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS) has called on the government to adequately resource public hospital laboratories with modern diagnostic equipment.

The group says such equipment should include electrophoresis and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) machines to help provide quality laboratory diagnostic services for accurate diagnosis and management of diseases including Sickle Cell Diseases and Thalassemia.

“We further urge the Ministry of Health, to as a matter of public health priority, to upgrade and build the capacity of the National and Regional Public Health Reference Laboratories in the country to Biosafety levels III/IV status to be able to adequately and safely handle epidemic prone infectious diseases including Ebola,” said the GABMLS in a communiqué issued at the end of its 2015 Annual National Congress in Tamale.

The Congress was on the theme: “Ensuring Effective Management of Medical Laboratory Services in a Regulated Environment”.

The GABMLS, as the sole professional body of all medical laboratory professionals in Ghana, says it is committed to building capacity and promoting professional development of its members to be able to provide laboratory services that meet international standards.

“We urge all medical laboratory practitioners to pursue continuing professional development and take advantage of the Quality Management Systems (QMS) courses soon to be rolled out across the country,” said the statement signed by President, Thomas Kwabena Gyampomah and General Secretary, Michael Amo Omari.

The Association has reiterate its calls for the Ministry of Health to take immediate steps to launch and operationalize the three National Health Laboratory policy documents – the National Health Laboratory Policy, National Health Laboratory Strategic Policy, and National Health Laboratory Accreditation Policy.

It has also entreated the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to “unbundle medical laboratory services and pay fee-for-service to make funds available for the procurement of relevant laboratory supplies and reagents for delivery of uninterrupted quality laboratory services that will enhance quality healthcare delivery in our hospitals for the benefit of the citizenry”.

The Ministry of Health has also been asked to direct Heads and Managers of public hospitals to set aside established revolving funds for laboratories for the procurement of laboratory supplies and reagents for uninterrupted laboratory services.