The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has received an ISO 15189-2022 accreditation, certifying it is one of the world-class medical laboratories which conforms to international practice and upholds the highest standards in its work.
The assessment for the accreditation was done last year and in January, this year, the institute was issued with the certification.
The Director of NMIMR, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the Quality Week celebration of the institute. She explained that the attainment of the certification meant that the institute was a centre of excellence and that its work met international standards.
“It is a testament to say that what Noguchi does is credible. As a leading biomedical institute in the sub-region, this accreditation puts NMIMR once again on another pedestal of international recognition. This accreditation strengthens scientific and medical research and promotes higher research integrity and credibility.
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“ISO represents a rigorous process where our systems and procedures are thoroughly examined against internationally recognised standards, ensuring consistency, reliability and safety in everything we do.
By attaining ISO accreditation, we demonstrate to our stakeholders that we prioritise quality and adhere to the highest standards, building trust and loyalty,” she explained.
Credibility
She explained that the credibility the certification gave the institute was very important in terms of looking for funding, explaining that the certification made it eligible for them to apply for certain grants that required the ISO certification.
She urged staff of the institute not to become complacent now that they have the certification, rather they should continue to strive for greater efficiency, explore new standards relevant to their work and further elevate their quality management system to ensure their commitment to excellence remained firm.
Quality Week
On Quality Week, Prof. Yeboah-Manu said it was instituted three years ago to bring into focus their quality management systems, adding that as a facility dedicated to scientific advancement, they recognised that quality was the foundation of their work and ensured that their research findings were accurate, laboratory processes were reproducible and the outcomes contributed .meaningfully to global health and scientific discovery.
She said as part of this year’s Quality Week celebration, which is on the theme: “Sustaining a quality culture,” there would be training sessions, discussions and quality improvement initiatives aimed at reinforcing their commitment to exceeding their ISO certification.
Congratulating the NMIMR on its ISO certification, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, said the accreditation was not just a milestone for NMIMR but a national achievement that reflected Ghana's growing influence in the global health and scientific research landscape.
Additionally, he said it was a testament to NMIMR’S commitment to excellence in biomedical research, diagnostic services and the competency of the workforce.
The Provost for the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Alfred Yawson, who chaired the function, said during this time when climate change adaptation, mitigation and others were affecting the distribution of communicable and non-communicable diseases, affecting the environment and water systems, it was important that as scientists, they had what it took, the right instrument and the standards of practice, to combat them.
In a presentation on the theme, the Head, Clinical Pathology Department of NMIMR, Prof. Dziedzom de Souza, said quality culture was particularly crucial in research, where integrity and accuracy were paramount.
He said regarding biomedical research, there were so many expectations from their stakeholders and customers who expected them to use their highest quality methods to ensure the integrity of their results and uphold high ethical standards.
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The assessment for the accreditation was done last year and in January, this year, the institute was given the certification.
