GHS Reinforces Commitment To Strengthening Medical Laboratory Services
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening medical laboratory services as a critical pillar for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with renewed emphasis on quality improvement, sustainable financing, effective human resource management, and ethical leadership.
The commitment was reiterated by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, at the 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society of Medical Laboratory Managers, Ghana (SMLM-G), held under the theme “Advancing Quality Medical Laboratory Services Through Sustainable Financing and Human Resource Management.”
Addressing participants, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea offered a candid assessment of the country’s laboratory services and called on laboratory managers to embrace accountable leadership, professional integrity, and operational discipline.
Reflecting on the evolution of diagnostic medicine from 17th-century microscopy to modern automated PCR platforms and artificial intelligence, he noted that virtually every clinical diagnosis, blood transfusion, and treatment decision depends on accurate laboratory results.
Despite the progress made, Dr Kaba highlighted persistent quality gaps within the laboratory system. He revealed that of the 25 public laboratories currently undergoing accreditation, only four have attained accredited status.
He therefore challenged laboratory managers to strengthen quality improvement systems and work towards achieving higher ratings under the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA), with the goal of increasing the number of facilities attaining four- and five-star status.
On ethical conduct and operational governance, Dr Kaba issued a strong caution against practices that undermine public confidence in the health system, including the deliberate neglect or artificial downtime of public laboratory equipment, the diversion of public reagents, and the referral of patients to private facilities for personal gain.
He urged laboratory managers to serve as effective leaders of their departments by enforcing Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) for high-value diagnostic equipment, eliminating unqualified operators, and safeguarding public assets procured with taxpayers’ funds.
He also stressed the need to align postgraduate training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) with career progression, organisational needs, and budget planning.
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