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Professor Lawler launches Lancet series

Hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved from disease in low and middle income countries according to Professor Mark Lawler of CCRCB

Professor Lawler was in New York with colleagues from an expert group to launch a series of articles on 'Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in Low- and Middle-Income Countries' in the prestigious Lancet journal.

The expert group published a series of eight recommendations, which if implemented would deliver modern high quality affordable Pathology and Laboratory Medicine services in low and middle income countries by 2030. They also issued a “Call to Action” for all stakeholders to come together in a Global Alliance to ensure timely implementation of their recommendations. 

Professor Lawler who is senior author on Paper 3 in the series said: “Exciting developments in Point of Care Testing (POCT) and molecular technologies are lessening requirements for sophisticated laboratory equipment and specialist laboratory skills in resource-limited settings, thus facilitating rapid test results so that patients are screened and treated on the same day. However, while POCT can allow low and middle income countries to bypass or 'leapfrog' poorly functioning laboratory systems, it must only be provided as part of an overarching National Laboratory Strategic Plan. Unregulated, inaccurate, POCT will only worsen the situation – so Look before You Leapfrog.”

Professor Lawler's work on the issue complements his Euoropean project 'Addressing Cancer Inequalities in Europe' - a Social Charter Signature Project.

For more on Prof Lawler's work visit this page.

For more on the Lancet series visit this site.

 

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