The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has commended the Minister of Health for issuing a directive to implement 24-hour medical laboratory services and 24-hour Out-Patient Department (OPD) services across Teaching, Regional, and District Hospitals nationwide, describing the move as bold, timely, and transformative.
The directive, announced at the close of the Ministry of Health’s management retreat, is expected to significantly strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in emergency and critical care situations where timely diagnosis is crucial.
Medical laboratory services remain a cornerstone of modern healthcare, with over 70 percent of clinical decisions dependent on accurate and timely laboratory results.
A statement from the GAMLS noted that the policy will improve diagnostic turnaround times, reduce preventable delays, and enhance overall efficiency within Ghana’s health system.
“This forward-looking policy demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring timely clinical decision-making, especially in emergencies,” the Association stated.
While welcoming the directive, GAMLS has cautioned that its success depends largely on adequate human resource capacity, urging the government to prioritize the immediate employment of qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists.
The Association noted that although many trained and licensed professionals remain unemployed, existing laboratory staff in public facilities are already overstretched.
“Without adequate staffing, the 24-hour service directive risks placing undue pressure on the current workforce, potentially compromising service quality, staff wellbeing, and patient safety,” GAMLS warned.
GAMLS called on the government to address staffing gaps through equitable deployment, provision of essential logistics and infrastructure, and the introduction of a planned motivation package for health professionals to sustain the directive.
“A comprehensive motivation package will be critical to sustaining round-the-clock services and ensuring improved, accessible, and quality healthcare for all Ghanaians,” the statement added.
The Association reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure the effective implementation of the directive and the strengthening of the diagnostic pillar of Ghana’s healthcare system.
The statement was jointly signed by Dr. Eric Kofi Aidoo, President of GAMLS, and Dr. Solomon Kwashie, General Secretary
GAMLS is a member of several international and continental professional bodies, including the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS), the Federation of African Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (FAAMLS), the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and the Ghana Federation of Allied Health Professionals (GFAHP).