The Interprovincial Laboratory Network Workshop took place in Vientiane Capital on July 10 and 11, 2024. This two-day event brought together fifty participants from provinces across Laos, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the country’s laboratory network.

This two-day workshop was successfully organized with strong collaboration from the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Dr. Phimpha Paboriboune, Scientific Director of the Center Infectiology Lao-Christophe Mérieux (CILM), Dr. Thi Ha, Head of Southeast Asia for the Mérieux Foundation, and all participants.

The aim of this workshop was to foster dynamic links and exchanges between the laboratories in Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane provinces. In addition to building relationships, the workshop focused on addressing key challenges and identifying innovative solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of diagnostics across the national, regional, and provincial laboratory networks.

Dr. Boualay Norchaleun, Deputy Director of the NCLE, opened the workshop by highlighting the critical role of the laboratory network in ensuring public health. He emphasized that “strong coordination and knowledge sharing among laboratories at all levels is essential to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, which ultimately leads to better disease prevention and control throughout the country”. 

Key points raised during the workshop included the need for a national policy for medical laboratories, with particular emphasis on laboratory maintenance, equipment procurement and instrument calibration. Participants also discussed ways to improve communication between laboratories and their clients, including patients and clinicians. Roles and responsibilities of laboratory managers were clarified, with guidelines on how to write job descriptions. Another important aspect was the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for acceptance criteria for laboratory equipment.

Feedback from the satisfaction survey showed that all participants were highly engaged and appreciated the workshop, with many requesting future sessions. A follow-up workshop has already been scheduled to continue work on this essential subject for the laboratories.

About Bolilab

The BoliLab project was created following the construction of the new Bolikhamxay provincial hospital with funding from LuxDev and inaugurated in July 2018. Working closely with the provincial Department of Health and the NCLE (National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology), the Mérieux Foundation is contributing its expertise in developing and supporting medical biology laboratories with limited resources in the provinces of Bolikhamxay, Vientiane Province and Khammouane.

The overall aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of health services in Bolikhamxay province.

The following initial specific objectives identified are:

• Strengthen the quality of diagnostic services of the Bolikhamxay provincial laboratory
• Strengthen the diagnostic quality of laboratories in Bolikhamxay province
• Integrate the Bolikhamxay provincial laboratory into the national laboratory network.
• Develop the leadership of laboratory managers

The specific objectives of the extensions include:

• Propose an inter-provincial capacity-building program for laboratory staff
• Support the redevelopment and creation of new laboratories in the provinces