Canadian company to manufacture lab equipment in Accra

Accra, June 8, GNA - A Canadian medical company is to establish a plant in Accra for the manufacture of affordable laboratory equipment this year. The company, BioMedica Diagnostic Incorporated aims primarily at focusing on research, development and marketing of affordable medical diagnostic equipment for hospitals and small clinics in emerging economies.

In collaboration with DANPONG Groups Company (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies in the Ashanti Region), BioMedica would establish the plant as well as assist interested medical centres and hospitals to set up diagnostic laboratories.

Exhibiting some of the Company's range of gadgets in Accra on Thursday, Dr Abdullah K. Kirumira, President of BioMedica, said the plant would manufacture reagents that would provide a complete lab support service with a comprehensive diagnostic menu. The range of assays or tests would include routine blood chemistry work for general assessment of metabolic and organ functioning; complete haematology blood cell counts; common immuno-diagnostics and serology for infectious diseases; fertility testing; drugs abuse; cardiac diseases and cancer markers.

Others are blood coagulation testing for routine management and monitoring of cardiovascular risk; comprehensive urinalysis and diabetics management products. Dr Kirumira, a Ugandan who owned the Company, said he developed a three-minute HIV/AIDS tests, the world=92s fastest, in Canada five years ago.

According to him, his interest was to develop a home grown African diagnostic solution for the Continent's medical problems ensuring that the devices were affordable. In addition, Dr Kirumira said the Company's presence in Ghana was also to form partnership with investors interested in establishing regional network of small independent laboratories in urban and rural areas.

Those interested in introducing diagnostics as a complementary business service in private clinics or enhance existing laboratory facilities with cost effective and low maintenance equipment could also access the technologies.