In compliance with the royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to establish a central public health laboratory for all health disciplines, the Ministry of Health (MOH) celebrated today (Tuesday) the laying of the foundation stone of a world-class public health laboratories compound.

The project, implemented by Jalfar Engineering & Contracting Company, costs OMR 18.2 million on a land area of 18,155 sq. meters in the Wilayat of Al-Seeb.

H.E. Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al-Sabti, Minister of Health, stressed that this national laboratory is one of the vital national security pillars, deriving from His Majesty’s concern to develop and promote the health sector in line with the requirements of the times and to foster local sufficiency of lab tests.

The Minister added that the world-class central public health laboratory would be a reference and diagnostic laboratory for conducting necessary investigations to support the surveillance and epidemiological investigation programs locally and regionally.

Furthermore, the Minister of Health affirmed that the new lab would perform diagnosis and investigation works using the latest technologies and strictly comply with the quality and biosafety standards. The lab will provide training and continuous education for the technicians at the national and regional levels. 

Moreover, H.E. Dr. Hilal Al-Sabti, Minister of Health, pointed out that the project aims to promote the capacity of the current public health laboratories by establishing a new and modern facility to increase the Lab’s capabilities to collect, register, store, and process samples according to the most recent standard international practices. The Lab will also support the increasing demand in public health and academic requirements to strengthen interaction with other scientists, clients, lab students, and administrators worldwide. In addition, the Lab seeks to improve efficiency; time spent and facilitates practical receiving by the proper biosafety standards.

The Minister of Health indicated that the current public health laboratory in the Sultanate of Oman is a regional reference for many lab tests from the region's countries. The lab conducted 242267 lab tests until the end of 2022. 

The central public health laboratories will perform epidemiological surveillance for any health developments and surveys in coordination with the concerned authorities. It will carry out necessary awareness for the local society and expatriates in cooperation with the other relevant authorities in the Sultanate of Oman in areas of Public Health.

The lab will coordinate with educational institutions in the Sultanate and/or abroad in specialized research works to promote health and disease prevention.

It will also be prepared to respond quickly to the public health emergency.

In addition, the lab will promote health and prevent diseases by providing leadership in laboratory sciences and support to public health & environmental activities.

The main building of the project consists three floors including the following sections: biochemistry and toxicology, foodborne disease outbreaks investigation, Bacteriological Laboratory (Antimicrobial resistance reference lab, molecular bacteriology reference lab), quality and risk management (regional external quality assurance scheme provider), public health laboratory affairs, Virological Laboratory (regional polio laboratory, regional measles & rubella laboratory, national influenza center, regional SARS-CoV-2 laboratory), national TB laboratory and others.

In addition, the main building will include halls and laboratory for training purposes, main auditorium (135 persons), bio medical workshop, and offices for doctors, scientists, and technicians. The landside buildings will include entomology and insectary laboratories, in addition to a building for engineering and workshops for engineering and technical staff.