The Minister of Public Health, Rakan Nasser Al-Din, laid the foundation stone to begin the restoration and modernization work of the National Central Laboratory for Public Health, which specializes in emerging and emerging infectious diseases, at the Martyr Rafik Hariri Governmental University Hospital. This work is being carried out in cooperation with the World Health Organization and with funding of 10 million euros as a grant from the European Investment Bank within the “Economic Resilience Initiative,” in addition to support from the Norwegian Embassy.
The launch of this project represents a milestone in the process of improving the infrastructure of the public health sector in Lebanon, in addition to strengthening basic national capabilities in the field of epidemiological surveillance, early detection, and emergency preparedness, in light of the difficult economic and social conditions that the country is going through.
In his speech, Nasser El-Din stated that “the Central Epidemiological Laboratory is a major achievement and a strategic national investment, which will restore Lebanon’s ability to detect and respond to health threats and protect society,” and stressed that it will represent a key tool for the Ministry of Public Health to work according to global standards that are compatible with those of the World Health Organization.
He pointed out that the laboratory will be ready to serve the Lebanese people soon, while noting the efforts of former Minister Firas Al-Abyad in preparing for the project, and stressed the importance of the laboratory’s presence in the Hariri University Hospital, which is being worked on to make it a reference hospital.
He added: “This achievement would not have been possible without the combined efforts of everyone in the Ministry of Health and the partners,” expressing his thanks to the European Investment Bank and the Norwegian Embassy for their support.
He explained that the central laboratory will be the objective tool to evaluate the epidemiological situation in Lebanon, and revealed that the Ministry is also working to establish a reference laboratory for medicines at the Lebanese University in accordance with World Health Organization standards, as part of comprehensive reform projects aimed at strengthening the reference laboratories of the Lebanese state and improving hospital and drug conditions.
For his part, Ulrich Brunhuber, Head of the Public Sector Department in the Middle East and North Africa at the European Investment Bank, said that the opening of the laboratory represents an important step in strengthening public health capabilities in Lebanon, expressing the Bank’s pride in supporting this initiative alongside the World Health Organization and the “Team Europe” partners, which contributes to building stronger health systems that are more capable of facing challenges.
The representative of the Norwegian Embassy also considered that this initiative reflects the importance of sustainable international partnerships in supporting public institutions and protecting the health of the population, and praised the efforts made to support the national health strategy in Lebanon.
For his part, the representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. Abdel Nasser Abu Bakr, stressed that reviving the central laboratory is not just an infrastructure project, but rather an investment in resilience, explaining that the combination of development financing, national priorities, and technical expertise allows achieving a lasting impact even in the most difficult circumstances.
A statement issued by the World Health Organization explained that the Central Public Health Laboratory is one of the core capabilities stipulated in the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), and will serve as a national reference laboratory to support the rapid confirmation of priority infectious diseases, investigate outbreaks, and make evidence-based public health decisions.
The renovated building consists of a basement, ground floor, three upper floors and a roof, with a total area of approximately 3,000 square metres, and upon commissioning is expected to perform between 4,000 and 4,500 diagnostic tests per year, strengthening national surveillance systems and strengthening coordination within the public health laboratory network.
This investment is a direct response to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the vital role of effective national laboratories in pandemic preparedness, strengthening health system resilience and building public confidence.
The project is not limited to physical rehabilitation, but rather includes designing infrastructure that complies with biological safety standards, purchasing and installing specialized equipment, developing staff capabilities, and integrating the laboratory into the national network of laboratories, ensuring sustainability, quality, and resilience.
Governance and oversight mechanisms are also being put in place under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health and with technical supervision from the World Health Organization, to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to international standards.
At a time when Lebanon faces intersecting crises, the Central Public Health Laboratory represents a vital investment in national health security, strengthening institutional resilience, and preparing to confront future epidemics and emergencies.
