GAMLS applauds NDC on plans to establish Medical Lab Science C’cil
The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has lauded the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) 2020 manifesto promise to establish a Medical Laboratory Science Council in the country.
The NDC, in its 2020 manifesto, which was launched on Monday, 7 September 2020, dubbed: “The People’s Manifesto” on page 64 (Section 7.1.3), promised, among other plans for the health sector, that it will establish a Medical Laboratory Science Council should the party win the 2020 national elections.
A statement issued on Thursday, 10 September 2020, said it “has welcomed the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s Manifesto promise to establish a Medical Laboratory Science Council in Ghana, when it comes to power.”
The GAMLS commended the NDC for “recognising the need for the establishment of a Medical Laboratory Science Council (MLSC) to regulate the practice of the profession in Ghana – a proposal that has been on the table since 1973.”
According to the association, it believes “having the Council in place is the only way to ensure that Ghanaians benefit most from the services that Medical Laboratory Science Professionals provide in the country’s healthcare delivery system.”
It noted that: “A Medical Laboratory Science Council will offer the required independence, as suggested and presented in the Scheme of service developed for Health laboratory services by the Head of Civil Service as far back as 1989 when Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Grant was the Deputy Secretary for Health under the PNDC (OHCS HLS/Est.-48). This initiative is also in sync with international best practice.”
The statement continued that: “The need for a Council to govern the practice and operations of the sector has been a source of agitation among medical laboratory scientists and for which GAMLS has embarked on industrial actions in recent times. Therefore, we welcome the creation of a Medical Laboratory Science Council.
It further commended “the NDC Party for its plans to establish two National Infectious Disease Centres and to develop strategies to reduce the cost of health care by promoting local production of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostic test kits.”
