ACCREDITED LABORATORIES IN GHANA
Accredited laboratories in Ghana are an essential component of our healthcare strategy as a nation.
Medical laboratory science is a sine qua no in healthcare provision in any country as without that service it will be difficult to properly diagnose and treat diseases or injuries of people in need of healthcare. Key in properly diagnosing diseases for onward treatment are the clues given by the finding outs carried out in medical laboratories. Just as police detectives fish out to find out clues to unravel a crime and ensure justice is served, so does finding outs from medical laboratories by lab professionals ensure appropriate healthcare could be delivered to whoever may be in need of the same.
But it shouldn’t end there. These medical laboratories must be accredited – i. e. they must be officially recognized, authorized, and monitored somewhat by a body empowered by the state to ensure they are conforming to certain agreed standards in that space of healthcare. Simply put, laboratories must be worth their sort; they must be accredited to be patronized by customers.
In a study carried out, about 62% of clinical decision-making relies on lab test results and recommendations yet 71% of patients were not very certain their doctors are using the most recent diagnostic standards of care. For a service that is so heavily relied upon to deliver health treatment decisions – not only in the realm of curative health but also in that of preventive – it stands to reason why they must be accredited. Consumers demand confidence in the quality of products and services given, their primary concern being their health and safety.
Clearly, in the ecosystem of healthcare service, accredited laboratories in Ghana are seminal and in the prevention and treatment of illness, these accredited laboratories hold a significant chip in the bargain of healthcare delivery.
WHY PROMOTE ACCREDITED LABORATORIES IN GHANA?
Let us consider the crucial role they play. Accredited laboratories in Ghana promote health and safety. Life and good health are fundamental human rights and accredited laboratories in Ghana promote these basic human rights. The accredited status of these labs means they are operating up to the highest international standards required that not only preserves the life and safety of consumers (and staff) but even goes a long way to protect the environment. This will result in a healthier citizenry with more productive years to support the development of the country.
Accredited laboratories in Ghana also foster and reinforces the competitiveness of laboratories in the nation. Competition brings out the best in people and organizations alike. The health ecosystem will be made better and the citizenry – consumers – the beneficiaries. As regulatory bodies are diligent in weeding out phony laboratories, pushing all existing laboratories to become accredited, and holding them up to their accredited status, the impact will play out in excellence in that section of our healthcare provision. A domino effect will ensue and soon word will go out there – back by hard evidence – just how credible our medical laboratory science is.
Again, accredited laboratories in Ghana promote the confidence of the citizenry in our healthcare system. In a world making great strides towards globalization, people from other nations may want to come and run medical tests here because of the practices of accredited laboratories in Ghana and how they, meeting international standards, have made Ghana a go-to place for authentic medical laboratory investigation and reporting. This can help our tourism fortunes as a nation among other things.
THE NEXT TIME…
The next time you pay your doctor a visit or your use the service of that clinic or hospital nearby and you’re asked to take a laboratory test, know that the doctor needs clues to facilitate a better understanding of your general or peculiar health condition needs so as to prescribe an appropriate treatment for your health. Opt for and patronize an accredited laboratory in Ghana for whatever results would come from the medical laboratory scientist’s investigation of your blood, urine or stool, etc. would most likely inform what the doctor will base his/her diagnosis and treatment upon.
That said, regulatory bodies in this space should be up and doing. Not only should they keep their antennae up and high to detect new laboratories that ought to be brought under their regulatory umbrella while ensuring standards are maintained with already operating laboratories but there should be a deliberate attempt at educating and sensitizing the general public to only patronize accredited laboratories in Ghana for obvious reasons.
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