The experts, all of whom have years of medical laboratory experience have established that the introduction of such kits had not only improved timely diagnosis of ailments but had also reduced cost of such diagnosis.

The experts include the President of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Dr Abu Abudu Rahamani, the Head of Medical Laboratory at the Trust Hospital, Dr Jacob Akuettey Armah, Head of Laboratory at Rabito Clinic, Dr Abarika Abukari and the Chief Executive Officer of Flokefama Company Limited, Emmanuel Teye Kenney.

Point-of-care testing, also known as near-patient testing, typically means carrying out a test using a device or test kit in the presence of the patient and without the need to send a sample to a laboratory.

The global POCT market was estimated at $40.6 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach around $103.2 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.92 per cent from 2022 to 2030 due to increased market demand due to rising disorders among the population.

Dwelling on quality

Mr Kenney, told the Daily Graphic in an interview after a Flokefama/ Biozek health solution conference in Accra last week that, POCTs had been used in hospitals for a while but the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic had brought about a major increase in its usage.

However, he said the increase in usage had increased the number of ineffective, cheap, unregistered test kits on the Ghanaian market.

“These unregistered test kits if not regulated and checked would lead to a total mistrust in point of care testing among the populace because we know that most of the malaria test kits on the market are not reliable,” he said.

Mr Kenney noted that as a major distributor of such medical products, it was imperative for the public to be educated about these kits and their relevance in the country’s healthcare system.

“Flokefam is committed to quality and Ghanaians can be assured of that, others are not of the quality of Biozek products and we must be alert,” he said.

As a result, he said Flokefama and its partners were at the concluding stage of establishing an IVD/POCT training school to help deepen knowledge on the technology.

“At this training school, healthcare practitioners with the requisite knowledge would be trained on how to use new and existing equipment in vitro diagnostics, POCT and other biomedical devices.

“We at Flokefama are committed to ensuring that the facilities which use our Biozek range of IVD products and point of care test kits have the best equipment, best training of laboratory staff, precision and quality control so that results that come out are world class and conform to industry standards,” he said.

Medical records

Dr Rahamani, who leads the association of medical laboratory scientists in the country said the Point-of-Care Testing should be medically prescribed and all results should be entered into the client’s record.

He said that was important to ensure that such equipment was not abused by the public so that they would continue to have a positive impact on healthcare delivery in the country.

Dr Rahamani said POCT was expected to lead to increased clinical effectiveness and improved outcomes for patients.