Acubed

During periods of illness when patients are admitted, during follow-up visits or
screenings, individuals between the ages of 20 and 65, often spend their valuable time
and resources searching for lab tests outside the healthcare facility. Instead of receiving
proper early diagnosis and treatment, they engage in this time-consuming process,
neglecting other potentially more valuable activities.
This situation leads to feelings of frustration and disappointment as they struggle to
locate the necessary lab tests without clear guidance on where to find them. While they
have the option to call a specific diagnostic center to inquire about the required tests,
there are limitations to the number of tests available at a single center. Additionally,
requesting the appropriate test requires a level of understanding of the specific
diagnostic procedure.
The unavailability of lab tests has dire consequences for the health outcomes of
patients. This issue leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment, contributing to increased
instances of misdiagnosis. Moreover, the prolonged turnaround time for lab results
exacerbates the problem, leaving patients dissatisfied and fostering a sense of distrust
in the healthcare system. The far-reaching impact extends beyond individual patients,
affecting the health system of the country and the overall well-being of society. Such
challenges can impede the progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal
3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Urgent attention is
required to address this issue and improve healthcare accessibility for all individuals.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the significant negative impact of the unavailability
and inaccessibility of lab tests on health outcomes. Findings from a study conducted in
Addis Ababa in 2016 revealed that only 38.5% of the visited health facilities reported
having all types of basic focused antenatal care laboratory investigations available.
Similarly, a study conducted in 2020 across Ethiopia found that only 78.6% of patients
were satisfied with the clinical laboratory services provided.
In another study conducted in Afar in 2018, it was revealed that only 52.4% of the
assessed materials and equipment were available in all laboratories. Furthermore, a
study conducted in 2022 reported a tuberculosis diagnosis delay of 45.42% in Ethiopia.
These statistics highlight the detrimental effects of limited access to lab tests, resulting
in delayed diagnoses and subsequent delays in treatment initiation.
Similar challenges have been observed in other African countries. In Tanzanian
hospitals, less than 50% of patients are diagnosed with severe malaria based on World
Health Organization (WHO) criteria had their diagnosis confirmed through a blood smear
testing for the presence of Plasmodium falciparum. In Ghana, a retrospective analysis
revealed that 40% of children clinically diagnosed with malaria actually had bacterial
sepsis.
In Nigeria, clinical diagnoses of typhoid fever had an accuracy rate of only
approximately 50% when compared with laboratory culture confirmation. Additionally, a
clinical syndromic approach in Kenya resulted in the oversight of bacterial meningitis in
24% of children.
These findings collectively emphasize the urgent need for improved access to and
availability of lab tests.