The Allied Health Professions Council has shut down six health facilities in the Ho Zonal Area after they were found to be operating without meeting basic regulatory and safety requirements. The affected facilities are Grace Diagnostic Center, Eagles Lancet and Imaging Center, RD Access Laboratories, Elysa Diagnostic, Professional Eye Care, and Bestlab Diagnostic.
Safety Concerns Prompt Facility Closures
A key concern identified during the compliance inspections was the absence of approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at several of the facilities. The lack of documented protocols for service delivery and the operation of medical equipment creates serious concerns about the safety and quality of care patients receive.
Registrar of the Allied Health Professions Council, Professor Issahaku Shirazu, explained that facilities that operate without proper SOPs put patients at risk because regulators cannot establish whether appropriate procedures and equipment are being used. "We cannot guarantee patient safety because we don't know what or which equipment you're using," he said.
Council Vows to Support Facilities in Meeting Regulatory Standards
Professor Shirazu said the Council would engage practitioners and support them to develop and implement the required protocols before they can meet the necessary regulatory standards. He added that the compliance exercise forms part of broader efforts to strengthen oversight of allied health facilities and ensure safe and quality healthcare delivery.
The Council's decision to shut down the facilities is a step in the right direction, given the importance of ensuring patient safety in healthcare facilities. However, the question remains as to how the facilities will be able to meet the necessary regulatory standards, and what support they will receive from the Council in this regard.
A New Era for Allied Health Facilities?
The closure of the six facilities is a wake-up call for all allied health facilities in Ghana. It highlights the need for facilities to prioritize patient safety and adhere to established standards and protocols. As the Council continues to strengthen oversight of allied health facilities, it is hoped that this will lead to improved safety and quality of care for patients in Ghana.
The Allied Health Professions Council's decision to shut down the facilities is a reminder of the importance of regulatory oversight in ensuring patient safety. It is a step in the right direction, and one that is long overdue. As the Council continues to work towards strengthening oversight of allied health facilities, it is hoped that this will lead to improved safety and quality of care for patients in Ghana.
Source: Joy Online
