Laboratory doctors protest six‑year unemployment crisis
Over a thousand trained Medical Laboratory Science doctors have remained unemployed for six years, prompting the Concerned Doctors of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS.D) to warn of a looming national health crisis.
In a press statement released on Monday, the group said that the prolonged joblessness of these highly‑qualified professionals poses a direct threat to patient safety and the overall quality of healthcare delivery in Ghana.
According to the statement, the affected graduates completed six years of rigorous academic and professional training in clinical chemistry, microbiology, haematology, immunology, molecular diagnostics and forensic analytical techniques – skills essential for early disease detection, monitoring and surveillance.
“Our expertise places us at the forefront of modern diagnostic medicine, yet we are left unemployed at a time when Ghana needs us most,” said Dr Essuman Dadzie, one of the signatories.
The group cautioned that the country’s diagnostic capacity is already overstretched, forcing patients to endure long delays for essential laboratory results because facilities are understaffed.
“Every Ghanaian deserves accurate and timely laboratory diagnosis, but this cannot be achieved when the trained professionals remain idle,” asserted Dr Kwasi Asante Otchere.
MLS.D also referenced remarks by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku‑Agyemang at ICASA 2025, where she stressed the need for an inclusive and resilient health system that fully utilises its human capital.
The graduates have called on the Minister for Health, the Minister for Finance and the Presidency to grant immediate financial clearance for their recruitment and to integrate them fully into Ghana’s healthcare structure as key contributors to clinical decision‑making and disease prevention.
“How can a nation achieve quality healthcare when its human capital is left to waste away?” the statement queried, adding that the workload on currently employed laboratory professionals has become unsustainable.
“Honourable Ministers, the time to act is now,” said Dr Precious Achana. “Employing the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science graduates is essential to safeguarding patient safety and enhancing healthcare quality in Ghana.”
The group emphasised that hiring these professionals is not a favour but a national necessity that aligns with Ghana’s broader goals of strengthening health systems and improving public health outcomes. They are ready to contribute their skills to national development and urge the government to treat the matter with urgency.
Stakeholders anticipate a response from the ministries within the coming weeks, as the prolonged unemployment of MLS.D graduates continues to strain the health sector and impede progress toward national health targets, including the goal of diagnosing at least ninety‑five percent of persons living with HIV.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
