Accra, April 11, GNA - The Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GABMLS), on Monday launched a-week-long activities to mark the International Laboratory Day celebration, which falls on 15 April this year.

The activities include media interaction across the country, symposium, medical screening at Oshie-man and other parts of the country and a dinner dance. The celebration will be on the theme: 93The Role of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in the Global Management of Communicable Diseases".

Mr Ekow Binney, Director Clinical Laboratory Unit of the Ghana Health Service, who launched the Day, noted that Biomedical Laboratory Scientists were the foundation of any modern medical care delivery in every country.

"Without them, testing, diagnosis and treatment among others could not be possible in medical circles," he added. He noted that laboratory services had a critical role on health care delivery in the country and much importance had to be attached to the profession.

He advocated a national policy that would take care of biomedical laboratory scientists in terms of their challenges and the future of the profession.

Mr Binney said there should be the establishment of an advisory body to advise the Ministry of Health on concerns of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists in the country.

He urged the national executives to institute a regular training programme for its members to be abreast with best practices. Mr Prince Sodoke Amuzu, President of GABMLS, said the Biomedical Laboratory Scientists Day was to highlight specified health problems with the view of the profession.

In addition, he said, it was to promote the profession of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists and their role as key personnel within research, diagnosis and treatment of patients. "=85the work of biomedical laboratory scientists had to happen before drug or vaccine development can proceed," he added. He commended the Ministry of Health for how far they had handled the management of communicable diseases in the country. On communicable disease management, Mr Amuzu recommended that tests should be available at all primary healthcare centres, H1N1 influenza tests should be available at all regional and district hospitals, and tests should be performed by qualified laboratory personnel only.

"Sadly enough the National Health Insurance Scheme is encouraging the running of what they call 91Basic Tests' by non-laboratory personnel through their new approaches to cut healthcare cost. This obviously is at the expense of quality reliable diagnosis," Mr Amuzu said.

He explained that there should be a legal framework to protect patient's interest from quack and unscrupulous individuals, who were bent on taking advantage of 93a lawless environment", to enrich themselves to the detriment of Ghanaians. 11 April 11