{"id":3435,"date":"2021-06-01T23:34:40","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T23:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adugyasidennis.com\/?p=3435"},"modified":"2021-06-01T23:34:40","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T23:34:40","slug":"did-the-registrar-of-health-facilities-regulatory-agency-compromise-and-err","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adugyasidennis.com\/index.php\/2021\/06\/01\/did-the-registrar-of-health-facilities-regulatory-agency-compromise-and-err\/","title":{"rendered":"Did the Registrar of Health Facilities Regulatory Agency compromise and err?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A letter dated on the 31st of May 2021 and written by the Registrar of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has suggested that “basic laboratories across the country are to be headed by licensed medical laboratory technicians” and further positioned that \u201cPrimary, Secondary and Tertiary Laboratories are headed by either a laboratory medicine specialist or a licensed biomedical scientist\u201d.<\/p>\n

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A letter signed by HeFRA Registrar<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The letter makes reference to the very ACT of Parliament that established the Agency in Part 1 of the HEALTH INSTITUTIONS AND FACILITIES ACT, 2011 that was given assent by the President on 31st December 2011. As far as stakeholders are concerned, the law has not been amended and no known legislative instrument has been enacted to operate with the ACT 829, 2011.<\/p>\n

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The ACT 829<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it comes to the requirements of those who can practice medical laboratory science in Ghana, the agency respectfully makes reference to the Health Professions and Regulatory Bodies ACT, 2013 (ACT 857), Part 1 which under the Schedule on page 70 states that “the study and practice of laboratory investigations for diagnosis and treatment by health professionals including\u00a0Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Laboratory Technologist, and\u00a0Medical Laboratory Scientist.<\/p>\n

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Schedule extracted from the ACT 857<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0The recent strike action that started from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Chapter of Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) bothered on the rejection of two physicians that were posted as part of the laboratory staff by management. These physicians described as specialist in “Clinical Haematology or Laboratory Physicians” were products of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS). Unfortunately, the law that gives power to the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) in Part 2 of Health Professions and Regulatory Bodies ACT, 2013 (ACT 857) has no mention of these practitioners. One can take a look at the interpretation of “Medicine” in the law and it is clear that these specialties are alien to the law.<\/p>\n

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An extract from ACT 857 on Interpretation in Part 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is no wonder the GCPS at their appearance and presentation to the Prof. Ernest Ayeetey’s Committee, they requested for the Ministry of Health (MoH) to amend the laws to enable the Medical and Dental Council to regulate the practice of the Physicians who are specialising in aspects of the medical laboratory.<\/p>\n

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Portion of the Ayeetey’s committee that shows the request from GCPS<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on these information from the existing laws (ACT 829 and ACT 857), the HeFRA developed the checklist for requirements and assessment of facilities and to enable HeFRA to register facilities that make application. On the website of HeFRA (http:\/\/hefra.gov.gh\/index.php\/downloads\/, accessed on 01Jun2021), the checklist available and in use for the assessment of Medical Laboratories is Version 1.3, dated 17 Nov 2017.<\/em> On this document it is clearly stated that “the minimum qualification for a person in charge of a laboratory shall be<\/p>\n