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Doctor calls for law to regulate
private laboratories
Kuntanase (Ash), July 23, GNA - Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei,
General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA),
has called for the promulgation of a law to regulate the
operations and activities of private medical laboratories.
He said such a law was crucial to curb the influx of
sub-standard laboratories that had become a disincentive to
effective health care delivery.
Dr Opoku-Adusei said this at a day's health forum organized
by the Understanding Club, a benevolent society, for its
members at Kuntanase in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma
District.
He said use of obsolete equipment, engagement of unqualified
staff and non-adherence to the code of ethics of medical
laboratory practices by most private laboratories did not
only pose serious health hazards to Ghanaians but could also
result in a prolonged psychological trauma for patients who
are diagnosed and tested wrongly.
The General Secretary said it was high time civil society
organizations were encouraged and given technical assistance
to facilitate the setting up of medical schools to boost the
doctor-patient ratio in the country.
He said the doctor-patient ratio that stood at 1:60,000 in
some areas in Ghana was not healthy and that there were less
than 2,000 medical doctors in active service throughout the
country for the nearly 20 million population.
Mr Joseph Kwaku Duku, Chairman of the Understanding Club,
said the society had instituted a monthly health walk to
keep members in good physical condition.
GNA
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