Everyday adaptability in Ghanaian hospital laboratories

Developed countries that enact laboratory standards and universal health policies have the luxury of numerous resources and technological advances to ensure an efficient diagnosis. In rural and urban Ghana, resource availability fluctuates depending on allocated funds, location, and tools; yet, technicians in these hospital laboratories successfully treat their patients by modifying their care and protocols to fit the environment in which they work. This essay offers a porthole into the day-to-day lives of lab staff in urban and rural hospitals in the Ashanti region of Ghana. It describes the tools and procedures used by technicians to work effectively with limited resources. By identifying these daily operations, we can better appreciate the work of clinicians and technicians in developing countries and the diligence that is required to provide adequate care to their patients.