The Central Laboratory of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital launched the Laboratory Sub-BMC Open Day Celebration today, Wednesday, April 17, 2025.
The ceremony was held under the theme ‘’Transforming Diagnostics and Restoring Trust for Sustainability’’.
Activities earmarked for the day include health screening, a lab tour and exhibition, and the unveiling of the lab’s success in receiving its ISO 15189, which establishes requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories.
The Open Day coincided with the World Laboratory Day, which serves as an opportunity to recognise the crucial role of laboratories in healthcare, scientific progress, and safety.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Frank Owusu Sekyere, expressed his excitement at the open day, describing it as vital, especially when the facility has received its accreditation.
He noted that this is no mean achievement and congratulated the team and professionals who made this possible, pledging the management’s support in ensuring that the accreditation and quality of services rendered are sustained.
The lab could do a lot better to improve its services, especially with the establishment of private labs all over, he said, adding that ’’they (private labs) are not just there to decorate the streets. They are making business, and they are sustaining and surviving. It means that there is a lot that we can do better to be able to keep the patients that we have in terms of the laboratory requests, to collect samples and bring them to the ward”.
This, we believe, is going to reduce the number of episodes where samples are taken from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and sent to other facilities.
He also praised the lab for introducing barcoding, which reduces the incidence of error.
Dr Owusu Sekyere said he was looking forward to the period where every aspect of the lab process would be electronic.
General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS), Dr Solomon Kwashie, speaking on behalf of the Executive Council, congratulated the lab and pledged their commitment to support the facility.
‘’This is to congratulate the central lab for this important feat, and we want to assure you of our commitment to support the lab. We want to encourage you to sustain this accreditation so that in the next cycle of surveillance, we don’t lose it. This calls for management support.’’
On his part, the Acting Director of Medical Affairs at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital underscored the need for the staff to do more to make the central lab the preferred lab for the public.
He recounted how concerned Ghanaians had questioned why some samples are sent to countries such as South Africa for a study of the hospital which is regarded as the third largest in Africa.
He therefore encouraged the staff of the lab to do more to make the lab the preferred lab.
‘’You have shown commitment, and so I believe in you. I really believe that you can deliver… It just takes a bit more commitment and a bit more care in the work we do.
He said that patients are not looking for just a service but good service, which they are willing to pay for.
Dr. Harry Akoto disclosed that the figures for the facility have improved for the first time in ten years; they have hit a different bar with the number of tests conducted increased.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
