The BIOCHEMIST Agenda, initiated by the MSSG, is an agenda to forge collaboration with students and trainers of biochemistry to take such actions as appropriate including using the legal system to demand: (1) To be advised of the regulatory body that has mandate to register Biochemists as Health Professions; (2) Registration of Biochemists as health Professionals; (3) Fiat to restrain the stopping of Biochemistry students from undertaking industrial training and national service in the health laboratory facilities in the country.
Social media groups have been created to communicate the problem, and to offer biochemistry students a platform to share their experiences, stay updated and to find solution, in keeping with the overall AGENDA for registration of the BIOCHEMIST as health professionals. We impress upon all students and members of the biochemistry fraternity to remained committed and contribute their efforts to the Biochemist agenda to make it count.
BACKGROUND
BIOCHEMISTS are critical professionals in the healthcare system globally as they bring additional scientific perspectives to clinical practice, and drive healthcare research, innovation and development of new tests, methods and treatment interventions. German-American Biochemist Max Jaffe (1841-1911) developed Laboratory tests and methods, established one of the first clinical laboratories in the US, and advocated for integration of laboratory examinations into clinical practice. Jaffe was an early pioneer of clinical biochemistry Laboratory medicine. Other notable Biochemists in the history of clinical laboratory foundation and practice include Otto Folin and Leonard Skeggs.
In Ghana, Biochemists have been in the system for decades (employed by MOH, GHS and other health facilities), and provided the needed service for all these years. KNUST started training biochemists in the sixties. Biochemist scientists practiced laboratory medicine for over forty years before the universities started training the MLT/MLS in about 2002. The Ministry of health and Ghana Health Service categorize Biochemists under Allied Health Staff. Some prominent Biochemists who laid the foundation for development, established and brought clinical laboratory practice to the lime lightal in Ghana include Mr. David Tete Donkor (former KTH Central Lab Manager), the late Mr. Awuah Sekyere Nyantakyi (former head of Biochemistry, KATH and Ashanti Regional Biomedical Scientist) and Mr. Alhassan Batong, the Chief Biomedical Scientist of Bolgatanga Hospital and UE Regional Director of the National TB Control Program.
AHPC
Following its inception, the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857) established the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) with mandate to register All laboratory allied health staff. Shockingly, the AHPC has unfairly refused to register Biochemists, breaching the rights of biochemists to education and work. Thus, AHPC's action is affecting training and professional activities of biochemists in Ghana.
This disturbing action of the AHPC is further clandestinely fueled by leading members of Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS), the group representing the Medical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians. The wide-spread discriminatory stopping of Biochemistry students from undertaking industrial training and National Service in the health laboratory facilities in the country is a manifestation of the unethical Machiavellian tactics by the GAMLS to undermine the training and practice of biochemists. The GAMLS perceives biochemists as professional rivals and competitors. Any health facility which refuses to accept biochemistry students for industrial attachment or national service on the basis of the programme of study is committing a serious sin or crime, and must be reported and investigated.
CONSEQUENCES
The actions of the AHPC have consistently disenfranchised Biochemists from working in health Facilities in the Armed Forces, Prison Service, Christian Health Facilities, Private Health, Blood Bank Facilities, Public Health Laboratories, as well as facilities of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service. AHPC's action has not only prevented Biochemistry graduates from engaging in private ventures or initiatives in health laboratory practice to earn a living or provide jobs for others, but also posed u restrictions on teaching and research activities of Biochemists in Ghana.
MSSG
The MSSG is the professional association which represents Biochemists and Biologists in the Health sector. Since its formation in 2015, the MSSG has been engaging with the leadership of health, advocating for registration of Biochemists and Biologists as health professionals. The ministry of health is taking steps to address the problem through the National Health Laboratory policy (NHLP) which is currently under development. The MSSG is a member of the National Health Laboratory Technical Working Group which is developing the NHLP. However, notwithstanding the ministerial steps to addressing the issues, the way forward appears to be difficult or dragging for timely resolution.
Best regards,
Elisha Larbi Nketiah
President, MSSG
