9 hours ago
Stop Referring Lab Tests to Private Labs – KATH Central Lab Urges Doctors
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Central Laboratory in Kumasi has made a strong appeal to doctors and healthcare professionals: stop sending routine lab tests to private laboratories when they can be done efficiently in-house. This call comes amid growing concerns about the underutilization of KATH's modern and fully-equipped central lab, which is capable of handling all standard and emergency diagnostic tests.
🔍 According to recent health news trending on Google Ghana, public hospitals across the country are being urged to support government-funded labs to help reduce the cost of healthcare and improve the quality of service delivery. The KATH Central Lab, one of the top medical laboratories in Ghana, is not only well-equipped but also staffed with certified biomedical scientists and medical laboratory technicians who follow strict protocols.
In a statement by KATH’s Medical Laboratory Services Directorate, it was emphasized that many tests referred outside the hospital are already part of the lab’s daily routine. These include full blood counts, liver and kidney function tests, malaria diagnostics, blood cultures, and a wide range of microbiology and biochemistry assays — all available under one roof at the hospital.
⚠️ Here's the issue: when tests are referred to private labs, it delays patient management, increases costs for patients, and affects data tracking within the public healthcare system. This is particularly concerning for NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme) patients, who may have to pay out of pocket when private labs are involved.
📈 Trending searches in Ghana for “affordable healthcare solutions”, “NHIS labs”, and “public hospital testing centers” show that patients are actively looking for accessible and affordable diagnostic services. KATH’s Central Lab fits this demand perfectly, offering accurate test results at lower costs and within shorter turnaround times.
🏥 Healthcare professionals are encouraged to rethink their referral patterns and make full use of internal resources. The lab management also mentioned that the current equipment is regularly maintained, and new diagnostic tools are constantly being introduced to keep up with global standards in medical testing.
💬 In a bid to promote transparency and public trust, KATH has launched an internal audit and feedback mechanism that allows clinicians to report any issues with test accuracy or turnaround time. This move ensures constant improvement and accountability.
✅ Supporting the KATH Central Lab not only strengthens the public healthcare system but also promotes local capacity building. Ghanaian doctors and health workers must rally behind government institutions if the dream of universal healthcare is to be realized.
🔗 With trending keywords like “Ghana health news”, “KATH updates”, and “central laboratory Kumasi” driving traffic, this issue is gaining national attention. If you're a healthcare worker, policymaker, or patient advocate, now is the time to share this message.
Let’s keep public health public. Choose KATH Central Lab for quality, affordable, and timely diagnostics.
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