The Ghanaian Society for Biomedical Scientists (GSBS) has expressed concerns over the lack of a professional registration and licensing pathway for graduates holding Bachelor of Science degrees in Biomedical Sciences in Ghana. In a letter dated November 2, 2026, addressed to Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) Registrar Professor Shirazu Issahaku, the Society requested a response within 14 days and raised the possibility of seeking judicial review at the High Court if ongoing engagements fail to produce progress.
According to the Society, graduates from programmes accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), including those offered by the University of Cape Coast, currently lack an established pathway to register with AHPC or sit a professional licensing examination specifically for Biomedical Sciences. Despite AHPC's mandate under the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857), to regulate allied health professions and ensure appropriate professional standards, Biomedical Sciences graduates remain without a distinct registration category.
The Society argues that Biomedical Sciences is a separate discipline from Medical Laboratory Science, with its own curriculum, clinical and research practicum requirements, and graduate population. Although both programmes share core diagnostic subjects, including haematology, blood transfusion, clinical chemistry and medical microbiology, Biomedical Sciences extends into specialised areas such as molecular diagnostics, human genomics, bioinformatics, and translational medicine.
The Ghanaian Biomedical Sciences curriculum aligns with relevant educational criteria used by the UK's Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), strengthening the Society's argument for a distinct professional assessment pathway. GSBS is seeking a formal or provisional registration category, an appropriate licensing examination, and structured engagement with the Council.
The latest development follows a series of exchanges between the Society and AHPC. In its November 2 letter, GSBS acknowledged receiving a response from AHPC on September 30, 2026, indicating that a meeting would be arranged after consultations with relevant stakeholders. However, the proposed meeting remains without a confirmed date, prompting the Society to request an indicative meeting date and the contact details of a designated AHPC Secretariat officer.
The Society has also requested information under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), including the official list of professions currently registered by the Council and any assessment conducted on the Biomedical Sciences curriculum. In its latest correspondence, the Society asked AHPC to respond within 14 days of receiving the letter, indicating that continued delays could leave it with little alternative but to seek judicial review under Article 23 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution.
The dispute raises broader questions about how Ghana's regulatory institutions respond to emerging health disciplines and whether graduates trained in specialised scientific fields are being given appropriate opportunities to contribute to the country's healthcare system. The Society emphasised that its objective is not to undermine Medical Laboratory Science or demand automatic licensing for its members, but to secure a fair assessment of Biomedical Sciences qualifications and a recognised professional pathway.
Key points
- The Ghanaian Society for Biomedical Scientists threatens legal action against the Allied Health Professions Council over licensing delays.
- Biomedical Sciences graduates in Ghana lack a clear registration and licensing pathway despite holding accredited degrees.
- The Society seeks a formal registration category, licensing examination, and engagement with the Council within 14 days.
