Over 90 per cent of laboratory processes in public health facilities in Ghana are not controlled, and this threatens the quality or accuracy of lab results churned out, that’s according to the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists.
This is mainly due to the lack of supervision and quality control.
The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists which made the claim says the situation is worrying and has serious negative implications for public health in the country.
The Public Relations Officer of the Association, Dennis Adu-Gyasi, explained that no daily quality control checks are done as expected before lab tests are carried out.
“It is quite emphatic to note that about 90% of laboratory processes are not controlled. These are some of the things that we have been calling and crying for to make sure our laboratory systems are reliable and trustworthy and comparable to all international standards.”
Mr. Adu-Gyamfi added that the government must take urgent steps to address the problem which he deems alarming.
“That is the hard truth, but we have come to a point where we think the public ought to know and that government has to take a decision to make sure that we get to an established level that lab results will be trustworthy,” he added.
While attributing the problem to the lack of funds, he said members of the association were not involved in budgeting, funding approvals, which has been left to the discretion of hospital management.
While advocating for their inclusion in decisions concerning financial allocation, he said discounted claims that laboratory technicians were inefficient in the execution of their duties.
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By: Jonas Nyabor & Zoe Abu-Baidoo/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
