Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) will lay the foundation stone of the Central Public Health Laboratory costing about RO18.2mn and spread over 18,155sqm in Seeb, Muscat, on Tuesday.

Medical laboratories constitute a basic pillar of healthcare systems, epidemiological investigation and disease monitoring.

In June 2020, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik ordered the establishment of a new central laboratory for public health that keeps pace with technical developments and the latest technical systems in order to cover requirements in all circumstances.

A statement issued by MoH said, ‘The main building of the central laboratory will have several departments, including chemical, biochemistry and bacteriological laboratories.

‘The main building will also include a department for quality and risk management, public health affairs, and a virology laboratory (Regional Polio Reference Laboratory, Regional Measles and Rubella Laboratory, National Influenza Laboratory and Regional SARS-Covid Virus Laboratory among others).

Its facilities will include a pulmonary tuberculosis reference laboratory, epidemiology and surveillance laboratory, besides administrative and financial departments.’

The ministry seeks to establish a modern, integrated building for the laboratory with the latest technologies and equipment required for lab tests in speciality facilities.

‘This central laboratory will be the first one of its kind in the region, which confirms the leadership of the Sultanate of Oman in several sectors and success in many health initiatives and programmes,’ the MoH stated.