Kohar Torbandu H, Munemo Ellen, Kpaka Jonathan, Marles Nisha, Akwiwu-Ibe Ochiawunma, Dahourou Anicet G, Jean Louis Frantz
Liberia Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia.
Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Project of USAID, Monrovia, Liberia.
Front Public Health. 2025 Jul 2;13:1504451. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1504451. eCollection 2025.
Liberia's health system, severely impacted by prolonged conflict and the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, suffered from critical gaps in laboratory governance, workforce capacity, and diagnostic infrastructure. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with international partners, launched a national reform initiative aimed at strengthening the laboratory system. This study assesses the implementation and outcomes of the revised National Laboratory Policy and Strategic Plan introduced in 2019.
A situational analysis was conducted to identify systemic weaknesses. The MoH formed a Technical Working Group to develop and implement the revised policy and plan. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through stakeholder interviews, document reviews, and laboratory quality audits.
The reform focused on five key areas: enhancing governance structures, expanding workforce development, implementing quality management systems (QMS), integrating private laboratories into the national network, and formalizing national laboratory policies and strategic guidelines.
Substantial improvements were observed across intervention areas. Governance was enhanced through strengthened roles of the National Diagnostic Division and National Public Health Institute of Liberia. A Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science program was launched, with its first cohort enrolled in 2023. Eighteen laboratories joined a structured QMS program, and three attained a one-star rating. Four private laboratories were integrated into national disease surveillance. Comprehensive policy documents and infrastructure, equipment, and quality assurance guidelines were developed and disseminated.
Liberia has made measurable progress in laboratory governance, workforce development, and quality assurance. Sustained investment in policy implementation, training, and infrastructure is critical to preserving these gains and improving national health security.
利比里亚的卫生系统受到长期冲突和2014 - 2015年埃博拉疫情的严重影响，在实验室管理、劳动力能力和诊断基础设施方面存在严重差距。为应对这些挑战，卫生部与国际伙伴合作，发起了一项旨在加强实验室系统的国家改革倡议。本研究评估了2019年推出的修订版国家实验室政策和战略计划的实施情况及成果。
进行了形势分析以确定系统弱点。卫生部成立了一个技术工作组来制定和实施修订后的政策和计划。通过利益相关者访谈、文件审查和实验室质量审计收集了定性和定量数据。
改革集中在五个关键领域：加强治理结构、扩大劳动力发展、实施质量管理体系（QMS）、将私立实验室纳入国家网络以及使国家实验室政策和战略指南正规化。
在各个干预领域都观察到了显著改善。通过加强国家诊断司和利比里亚国家公共卫生研究所的作用，治理得到了加强。启动了医学检验科学学士学位项目，首批学员于2023年入学。18个实验室加入了结构化质量管理体系项目，其中3个获得了一星评级。4个私立实验室被纳入国家疾病监测。制定并分发了全面的政策文件以及基础设施、设备和质量保证指南。
利比里亚在实验室治理、劳动力发展和质量保证方面取得了可衡量的进展。持续投资于政策实施、培训和基础设施对于保持这些成果和改善国家卫生安全至关重要。
