Lab scientists must head Korle Bu Central Laboratory – GAMLS

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists has rejected what it describes as “false and malicious” claims emerging from an ongoing dispute over the leadership of the Central Laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, insisting that only qualified laboratory scientists are legally mandated to head such facilities.

In a statement dated May 4, 2026, the Association said it was responding to recent narratives and a letter issued by the Korle-Bu Doctors Association, which suggested that physicians should lead the hospital’s central laboratory.

GAMLS stressed that its position is not about restricting the role of any professional group but ensuring “appropriate professional leadership” in line with regulatory standards. “Medical Laboratory Science is an advanced, specialized, and independently regulated profession,” the statement noted, citing the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857) as the legal basis for its stance.

According to the Association, leadership of medical laboratories must be vested in licensed professionals regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council to guarantee compliance with international standards, operational efficiency, and patient safety.

The group also strongly denied allegations attributed to KODA that laboratory scientists had issued threats of harm.

“These allegations are false, malicious, and entirely unsupported by evidence,” GAMLS said, demanding an immediate retraction and public clarification.

Addressing concerns about service quality, the Association dismissed claims that up to 50 percent of laboratory results are erroneous, describing them as “without proof” and potentially misleading to the public.

It maintained that the Central Laboratory remains compliant with global best practices, noting its ISO 15189:2022 accreditation as evidence of quality and competence.

GAMLS further emphasized its longstanding collaboration with doctors and other health professionals but reiterated that medicine and laboratory science operate under distinct training, regulatory frameworks, and mandates.

“The main issue under contention is leadership of the laboratory and nothing else,” the statement said.

It urged the public to disregard narratives that could deepen divisions within the health sector.