The Allied Health Professions Council has mandated the immediate closure of the Walewale Municipal Hospital laboratory following an inspection that identified critical lapses in safety protocols and professional standards.

During a nationwide audit, the Council’s team discovered that the laboratory failed to meet fundamental operational requirements, citing significant deficiencies such as inadequate waste management and the employment of unqualified personnel.

The facility’s physical environment characterized by structural decay, including cracked walls and the presence of cobwebs was deemed a severe risk for cross-contamination, which inherently compromises the integrity of blood samples and diagnostic outcomes.

In light of these findings, the Council has enforced a temporary suspension of laboratory services. Management at the hospital has been granted a two-week window to rectify these systemic issues and align the facility with established national safety mandates.

Dr. Lartey, the Medical Superintendent at the Walewale Municipal Hospital, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting that the cessation of services will profoundly disrupt healthcare delivery and worsen the clinical challenges faced by residents who depend on the hospital for essential medical services.

This regulatory intervention is part of a broader, nationwide campaign by the Allied Health Professions Council to standardize laboratory operations, which has already resulted in the shutting of several non-compliant private facilities in Walewale, Lagbinsi and Nalerigu in the North East Region.

Beyond infrastructure, the Council has issued a strict directive regarding workforce compliance, warning that any practitioner operating with expired Personal Identification Numbers or expired professional licenses will face immediate disciplinary measures.

According to the Registrar of Allied Health Professions Council, Professor Shirazu Issahaku, this comprehensive audit underscores a systemic commitment to eliminating unregulated practices and ensuring that all health facilities synchronize their internal protocols with rigorous national health standards.

He added that the exercise is still ongoing and more laboratory centers will be closed down should they lack the standard for operation.