A technical meeting on strengthening laboratory services within the framework of the EpiC project in the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Astana.

On May 13, 2026, a technical meeting dedicated to strengthening laboratory services in the Republic of Kazakhstan as part of the EpiC project of the Global Health Program was held in the Tulip Conference Hall of the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Astana.

Representatives of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Center for Expertise, the National Center for Public Health, and the Kazakhstan branch of Family Health International 360 participated in the event.

Main Discussion Topics

• providing laboratories with modern test systems, reagents, and consumables for the diagnosis of new and emerging infectious diseases;
• organizing training for specialists with the involvement of national and international experts;
• improving the quality management system and training laboratories for accreditation;
• development and updating of standard operating procedures (SOPs);
• conducting training events and simulation exercises;
• development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data analysis using the WHONET platform.

Meeting Summary

Following the meeting, participants identified priority areas for further collaboration, agreed on key activities, and appointed responsible contact persons. Particular attention was paid to strengthening laboratory capacity, improving the quality of diagnostics, and preparing for public health emergencies.

The implementation of the planned initiatives will improve the effectiveness of infectious disease detection and monitoring, as well as strengthen the national biosafety and epidemiological surveillance system.