DOH, JICA discuss laboratories project
Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) on Thursday held the second Joint Coordination Committee meeting to strengthen the Philippines’s national health laboratory network for infectious diseases (Phelnids).
Jica senior representative Masanari Yanagiuchi and DOH officials, led by Assistant Secretary Paolo Teston, reaffirmed their commitment to advancing more initiatives to further strengthen the national health laboratory network.
READ: DOF lines up health projects for funding
In a statement, Jica said the Philippines’ experience during the COVID-19 pandemic showed the need to improve its laboratory facilities and employ qualified personnel to conduct the required tests.
To address such issues, Jica and DOH joined hands to implement Phelnids.
Since its launch in July 2022, the Phelnids improved laboratory capacities and surveillance systems, creating a laboratory network system for Filipinos by incorporating good practices from Japan.
Article continues after this advertisementIn Thursday’s JCC meeting, Jica and DOH officials recounted the initial success.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: DOH to put up 7 subnational labs
“Improving access to high-quality, reliable diagnostics has never been more critical. By strengthening the Philippine national health laboratory network, we are equipping the country to cope with future health challenges with resilience and efficiency,” Yanagiuchi said.
Other DOH representatives in the JCC meeting came from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Epidemiology Bureau, the Health Facilities Development Bureau, and the Bureau of International Health Cooperation.
