Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has introduced comprehensive guidelines for paternity testing to address concerns and ensure transparency in the practice.
These guidelines, unveiled during the National Laboratory Sector Performance Review Meeting on Thursday, are aimed at regulating and standardizing paternity testing procedures across the country.
Among the key provisions in the guidelines is the requirement for laboratories offering paternity testing services to obtain accreditation. This accreditation will be granted upon meeting specific criteria, including having a dedicated team that comprises a counselor or clinical psychologist. Ensuring the presence of qualified professionals is essential to offer adequate support to individuals undergoing the testing process.
Furthermore, the guidelines specify that technical staff working in these laboratories must undergo specialized training in DNA sample management. The names and qualifications of all staff members will be submitted to the Ministry of Health for scrutiny and approval.
Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of these guidelines in addressing recent concerns related to the impact of paternity testing on families. She pointed out that the increased demand for paternity testing had led to clinics advertising themselves as DNA test providers. To combat this, the new guidelines prohibit such practices, and any clinics found promoting themselves as providers of DNA tests will face the automatic revocation of their licenses.
Under the new guidelines, individuals seeking paternity tests will be required to sign consent forms provided by the Ministry of Health. These forms will capture essential details of all individuals involved in the testing process, ensuring transparency and consent in every case.
The move to establish these guidelines comes in response to a significant increase in demand for paternity testing services. In July, Members of Parliament requested government intervention to regulate paternity testing as the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a 70 percent surge in demand for these services.
Dr. Suzan Nabadda Ndidde, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Health Laboratory Services, highlighted the government’s efforts to achieve international accreditation for more laboratories.
Currently, 70 laboratories have already achieved international accreditation, signaling Uganda’s commitment to delivering internationally recognized test results. This move towards self-reliance aims to reduce the need for sending samples abroad for specialized testing.
Moreover, for laboratories planning to transfer DNA samples abroad, the Ministry will require a valid material transfer agreement approved by the Director General of Health Services, further ensuring compliance with international standards and regulations.