By Murtala Issah
The Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) has intensified efforts to enforce professional standards in the healthcare sector, arresting two individuals and shutting down several medical laboratories in Tamale for operating without licenses and failing to meet minimum regulatory requirements.
The exercise forms part of the Council’s mandate under the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857), which empowers it to regulate the training and practice of allied health professionals and protect the public from substandard healthcare services.
During an inspection of medical laboratories in the Tamale Metropolis, the AHPC uncovered widespread violations of regulatory standards. One individual was arrested at New Life Medical Laboratory for allegedly operating the facility without a valid licence.
Five out of the eight medical laboratories inspected on the first day of the exercise were closed down and ordered to cease operations immediately due to serious deficiencies. The affected facilities are Sochibga Medical Laboratory, Kairos Medical Services, Standard Medical Laboratory, New Life Medical Laboratory and Scanning Unit, and Royal K4 Consult.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, the Registrar of the AHPC, Dr. Issahaku Shirazu, said the facilities failed to meet basic operational requirements expected of medical laboratories.
According to him, the laboratories lacked qualified personnel, had no evidence of quality control measures for reagents, and failed to maintain standard operating procedures that guide laboratory practice.
He noted that such shortcomings pose significant risks to patient safety and could compromise the quality and reliability of laboratory results upon which clinical decisions are based.
“Until we see evidence that the procedures they run are well-established procedures, we cannot open these laboratories for them to operate. We cannot trust what the outcome will be,” Dr. Shirazu stressed, referring to laboratory test results that inform diagnoses and treatment decisions by healthcare professionals.
The inspection team also identified inadequate space as a major challenge among many of the facilities visited. Most of the laboratories inspected were found to have operational gaps requiring urgent attention.
Facilities that were not shut down were cautioned to address identified deficiencies within two weeks or risk closure. Among the issues cited were poor lighting conditions and improper waste disposal practices, which fall below acceptable standards for laboratory operations.
The Council emphasized that adequate infrastructure, qualified staff, adherence to quality control procedures and proper waste management are essential to ensuring accurate laboratory services and safeguarding public health.
The exercise also raised concerns about the role of other regulatory and supervisory institutions within the healthcare sector. The AHPC observed that some sister institutions responsible for monitoring standards may not be doing enough to ensure compliance, a situation that could undermine efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
The Council reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all allied health facilities operate within the law and meet established professional standards. It warned that facilities that fail to address identified shortcomings within the stipulated period would face sanctions, including closure.
The AHPC further urged healthcare providers to comply with regulatory requirements and advised the public to seek healthcare services only from licensed and accredited facilities.
Meanwhile, a staff member of one of the laboratories visited, who spoke to GBC News on condition of anonymity, attributed the generally poor standards among some facilities partly to a lack of regular monitoring by regulators.
“I have been working here for five years, and this is the first time someone has come here to inspect our operations,” the staff member claimed.
The AHPC says the inspection exercise will continue as part of ongoing efforts to improve standards, ensure accountability and protect the health and safety of the public.
