In 2009 when WAHO thought it necessary to advance the diagnostic sector across it’s member states by proposing this Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science speciality to train professionals to the highest standard it didn’t sound very possible. Their dream for the policy was for professionals to be able to work across the West African sub region. This could not come to fruition until professionals were taken through the required training and preparation. The program required more years for the training and subsequent testing with the West African professional licence examination.
![doctors-of-med.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPiwwq3JFkwAvp4A5hZkKx625nt93YjqXQ4hjD6VLdqxf/doctors-of-med.jpg)
<sub>Medical Laboratory Scientist in an advance training session</sub>

It seemed like a joke when rumors broke out that the  University for Development Studies  was starting the MLS.D program in Ghana! Second university in the world. 
Many thought it was just the usual talks. But today, we have the first two batches out and changing the status quo. I can’t mention all their names here but some of these elite group of professionals are living the dream of WAHO today by working in laboratories outside of Ghana!



### Does Doctor of Medical laboratory Science mean progress?
It is interesting to state that the medical laboratory science profession have moved from the certificate program (LABASS) where professionals were trained on the bench to an elite phase of the profession -Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science trained in universities and teaching hospitals. It was through the sweat of great men that got the profession where it is today.       There is no successful revolution in the history of man except it was fought aggressively by people that were threatened by it.

<center>![img-20170729-wa0002.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUEBfrczVu7aYfezgGYTJUdcKBZLBQSN44f3bePWVZx5P/img-20170729-wa0002.jpg) 
<sub> First batch of doctors of Medical Laboratory science</sub>


I know fellow professionals still have a lot of unanswered questions about the new development. While some of this questions may be genuine, most are used as tools to ridicule the progress being made. Nonetheless there is the need to enlighten the public and fellow professionals about this the progress of this development.

It reminds me of the beginning of the bachelor degree of Medical Laboratory science
A lot was heard from fellow health care practitioners and some Medical Laboratory Scientist. “You don’t need degree to work in the lab.” “it is just a waste of time and resources” what is the difference between the diploma and degree? ” were some of the comments making rounds. Today do we have to say what the change has brought?

The questions I want to end with are: What kind of a man fights against his own progress?
What bad could professional advancement result to that makes it deserve sabotage? This profession remains the unseen heroes and there is a lot that needs to be done to change the status quo and Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science program is one way to go. Why is so acceptable for there to be a Doctor of Optometry but unnecessary for that of the Medical laboratory?  


<sub>This first appeared on my website [www.ehmkannde.com](https://www.ehmkannde.com/doctor-of-medical-laboratory-science/)</sub>