The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union has issued a strong rejoinder to the Society of Laboratory Physicians Ghana, insisting that medical laboratory scientists are not subordinates to physicians and play an indispensable, independent role in Ghana’s healthcare system.
Responding to a May 18, 2026 press release by the SLPG titled “Diagnostics and Health Care: The Role of Laboratory Physicians (Pathologists)”, MELPWU said the document wrongly presented core duties of medical laboratory scientists as exclusive functions of doctors med/dent or pathologists.
General Secretary Dr Cephas Kofi Akortor stressed that medical laboratory science and medicine are two distinct, legally recognised professions. “Doctor Med/Dent practices medicine or dentistry, and medical laboratory scientists practise medical laboratory science. Their roles are complementary but not interchangeable,” he said.
MELPWU cited the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857), which defines medical laboratory science as “the study and practice of laboratory investigations necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.”
The law places medical laboratory scientists under the Allied Health Professions Council, while physicians and pathologists fall under the Medical and Dental Council.
“The law has not stated anywhere that pathologists own, regulate, supervise, or control medical laboratory science,” the union stated. “Any attempt by Doctor Med/Dent to assume operational control over medical laboratories contradicts both the spirit and letter of Act 857 and will be firmly resisted.”
The union clarified that pathologists answer, “What disease does this result indicate for this patient?” while medical laboratory scientists answer, “Is this test result analytically valid, or has the sample, reagent, or instrument introduced error?”
MELPWU argued that MLS professionals generate, validate, and quality-assure every laboratory report, serving as “gatekeepers of analytical validity and scientific reliability”. Without their technical validation, it said, any clinical interpretation by a physician “rests on unreliable foundations”.
Rejecting claims that laboratories cannot function optimally without a pathologist physically present, MELPWU called the assumption false. It noted that Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has fewer than five doctors trained in lab result interpretation compared to about 400 medical laboratory scientists providing 24/7 services.
“In a life-threatening situation requiring urgent blood transfusion, the medical laboratory scientist performs blood grouping and crossmatching. Delaying for a doctor to validate the work of a competent MLS will only endanger lives,” Dr Akortor said.
The Union pointed out that several Ghanaian labs — including Korle-Bu’s Central Laboratory, the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory, and Ridge Hospital — attained ISO 15189 international accreditation through systems led by medical laboratory scientists.
“At a time when patients suffer due to shortages of physicians in clinics, theatres, and emergency units, it is not prudent to redirect scarce physician resources into laboratory functions already competently managed by licensed MLS,” the rejoinder stated.
MELPWU urged the Chief of Staff, Ministry of Health, Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, and regulatory councils to do the following:
1. Define roles clearly: Pathologists lead complex pathology cases and clinical interpretation in wards and clinics; MLS lead technical operations, quality management, and laboratory governance.
2. Respect professional autonomy: Neither profession should regard the other as subordinate.
3. Invest in MLS training: Prioritise postgraduate and specialist training for medical laboratory scientists to strengthen diagnostic capacity.
“Patient safety is undermined when one professional group attempts to erase the statutory role of another,” Dr Akortor said.
“Medical laboratory scientists and doctors/dentists are not rivals; we are partners. But partnership requires honesty. Ghana’s diagnostic system runs daily on the backbone of MLS. Recognise that, respect that, and then let us build world‑class diagnostics together.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
