REGULATE OPERATIONS OF BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS (PAGE 22, JAN 21, 2011)

THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reiterated the need for Parliament to pass a bill that would effectively regulate the operations of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in the country to enhance quality health care delivery.
In an address read on his behalf at the launch of an award ceremony organised by the Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS) in Kumasi, Otumfuo Osei Tutu acknowledged the distinct role Biomedical Laboratory Scientists play in the health care delivery system.
The programme, which was held on the theme: “Enhancing quality laboratory practices in Ghana — Strategies for strengthening the efforts further,” coincided with the launch of a two-year action plan that sought to galvanise members of the association for them to be more proactive in their health care delivery system.
The two-year strategic plan, a 14-paged document, seeks to devise means of addressing the challenges confronting members of the association.
The document also provides a logo, official website for the association, as well as a constitution in a booklet format and souvenirs for members that would enhance their self-esteem.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu stated that by providing confirmatory diagnostic services to aid the treatment of diseases, Biomedical Laboratory Scientists ensure efficiency in the health care delivery process.
“Clearly, without you, a lot of things will go wrong in the health delivery process. Your practice could save lives or push people to their graves earlier,” he observed.
The Asantehene said it was, therefore, important for Parliament to pass the Legislative Instrument “to regulate this noble profession to make you more organised and better regulated than you are now.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu also urged them not only to exhibit high professional standards in their practices, but also engage in activities that would make them more productive in the health care delivery system.
He said that would make health care delivery in the country more effective and efficient.
The President of the GABMLS, Mr Prince Sokode Amuzu, promised that the association would support health care delivery in the country in diverse ways.
He said the association did not only boast qualified lecturers in universities across the country who trained biomedical scientists, but also had qualified medical laboratory professional biomedical scientists who manned the medical laboratories in various hospitals in Ghana.
He stated that with the solid foundation that had been laid to build a professional body, it was important for them to advocate and lobby Parliament to pass the relevant Legislative Instrument that “shall regulate medical laboratory practice in Ghana”.
He said it was also important for the association to “set up the Institute of Biomedical Laboratory Science to facilitate the professional development of members as a way of maintaining high standard of professional practice”.
He said with such a body, it would be easy for members to be issued with accreditation and certification, and keep a credible register of all qualified members.
Mr Amuzu said that would make it possible for them to “expose all fraudulent practitioners and laboratories to safeguard public interest.”
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Thomas Kwabena Gyampomah, said notwithstanding their contribution to health care delivery, members “do not enjoy appreciable esteem, recognition and prestige from the public.”
“The growth expected for this sector lags far behind other health professional groups,” he stressed, adding that measures were being taken to address the lapses.