Celebrating medical lab tests

Medical laboratory practitioners celebrated this year’s Global Medical Laboratory Week from April 23 to 29.

This is a period to remember and reflect on the medical laboratory profession’s role in medicine from its establishment in the late 18th century to the current era of continuous pandemics such as Covid-19.

The weeklong observance, which was set aside in 1975, provides an opportunity to evaluate the laboratory profession’s history and contribution to human health as well as to strategise and map the future amid emerging and resurgent public health challenges.

It is no question that the advancements in science and technology have contributed immensely to the world of medicine.

This has led to the evolution of medicine from largely symptomatic treatment to evidence-based practice using the techniques brought by these technological advancements.

The laboratory is one area in medical practice that has been receptive to such technological advances. Its relevance greatly hinges on breakthroughs in various spheres of sciences, including diagnosis and treatment.

During the Global Medical Laboratory Week, professionals reflect on these advancements and their role in using technology to detect and treat various life-threatening conditions.

In Malawi, this week provides an opportunity to look closely at the status of technological advancement in medical laboratory diagnostics from technological to professional advancement.

The country is still struggling with a huge burden of infectious diseases and increasing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension and other metabolic disorders.

In such a healthcare system, efficient laboratory diagnostics is no doubt necessary.

This means that for the public to benefit from good laboratory services, the profession and its practitioners need to uphold the highest standards at all times.

Therefore, the healthcare system, both public and private, needs highly skilled laboratory professionals to drive operations of the medical laboratory system, carry out the technical work, setting standards and decide on the proper medical laboratory practices by themselves.

Looking back, the medical laboratory practitioners in Malawi have made significant progress in medical diagnostics.

Yet it is still evident that most Malawians still need access to high-quality medical laboratory diagnostic services across various healthcare levels.

As a result, misdiagnoses, late diagnoses and sometimes complete absence of diagnostic services are common.  We need to bridge the deadly gap.

The cost of neglecting this on the public is enormous and multi-dimensional. This varies from financial and quality of life dimensions to the price of life itself.

It seems the country’s medical laboratory diagnostic system remains underdeveloped and yet to achieve optimum results.

Therefore, the just commemorated and future Global Medical Laboratory Week observances provide an opportunity to look at how best the laboratory profession can contribute to our healthcare system for the benefit of the public, who deserve high-standard diagnostic services.

Laboratory professionals are expected to offer the public with the best possible diagnostic services.

However, we are not unaware that such services require an enabling environment that supports the growth of laboratory human resources and technology adoption.

Without necessary tools, reliable technology and full capabilities to execute their abilities, even with the best skills, laboratory professionals cannot deliver their best, let alone with limited diagnostic technologies.

Lastly, as medicine continues to evolve with more demands for evidence-based practice, Malawi should consider what it needs to meet this requirement.

It is time medical laboratory professionals carried the light and used their expertise to guide the nation on what is best for its people when it comes to medical laboratory diagnostics.