The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, has called for the promulgation of a law to regulate the operations and activities of private medical laboratories.

He said such a law was crucial to curb the influx of sub-standard laboratories that had become a disincentive to effective health care delivery.

Dr Opoku-Adusei said this at a day's health forum organized by the Understanding Club, a benevolent society, for its members at Kuntanase in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District.

He said use of obsolete equipment, engagement of unqualified staff and non-adherence to the code of ethics of medical laboratory practices by most private laboratories did not only pose serious health hazards to Ghanaians but could also result in a prolonged psychological trauma for patients who are diagnosed and tested wrongly.

The General Secretary said it was high time civil society organizations were encouraged and given technical assistance to facilitate the setting up of medical schools to boost the doctor-patient ratio in the country.

He said the doctor-patient ratio that stood at 1:60,000 in some areas in Ghana was not healthy and that there were less than 2,000 medical doctors in active service throughout the country for the nearly 20 million population.

Mr Joseph Kwaku Duku, Chairman of the Understanding Club, said the society had instituted a monthly health walk to keep members in good physical condition.

Source: GNA