Overview

Better Labs for Better Health was conceived in 2012 as an intersectoral approach to support Member States in eastern Europe and central Asia in strengthening their laboratory services to meet their commitments under the International Health Regulations (2005) to respond to health emergencies.

Since 2012, 3 biennial partners’ meetings have been held to monitor progress and ensure that future activities are correctly prioritized. A joint session with another WHO programme and partner that focuses on a health topic of particular relevance to participants is integrated into the agenda of these meetings to increase their impact.

The Third Partners’ Meeting took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in October 2018. It was held jointly with WHO/Europe’s antimicrobial resistance programme to address common concerns regarding laboratory quality and biosafety management, reform implementation and national capacity-building.

Participants included representatives from 11 Member States; partners such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Public Health England (PHE); and laboratory networks and professional associations.