Private Medical Laboratories demand effective regulations

The Association of Private Medical Laboratories (APML) has called for a legislative instrument to regulate the establishment and operations of private medical laboratories in the country.

Mr Samuel Boabeng, Member of the Association who made the call observed that the absence of such a law had led to the increase of wrong diagnosis of diseases and treatment leading to avoidable deaths.

In addition, lack of such regulations was affecting the fight against HIV and AIDS and other diseases.

Mr Boabeng made the call at a media soiree organised by the Brong-Ahafo Region Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund for sector associations in Sunyani.

It was on the theme: “Improving the Policy Environment of Business” to solicit the media’s support in the campaign of bringing to the attention of government and policy makers challenges and problems confronting small scale industries in the Region.

Mr Boabeng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Precise Medical Laboratory at Berekum, said any unprofessional person desirous in entering the business could establish a medical laboratory without a licence or authorisation.

He pointed out that proliferation of private medical laboratories had compromised national health standards and best practices and affecting public image and reducing client base which would eventually lead to the collapse of the operations of APML.

Mr Boabeng said to enable the private sector respond favourably to the creation of quality services to satisfy the needs of the people, private partnership for national development required the creation of an enabling business environment in the provision of health care and infrastructure.

He announced that a research conducted by the association in 2010 showed that out of 693 technical staff working in 205 private laboratories, only 26 per cent were professionals, thus physicians perceived their laboratory testing and services as unreliable.