(Bandar Seri Begawan, 28th) Acting Director of Medical and Health Services of the Ministry of Health, Leilawati, stated that laboratory services are crucial to Brunei's healthcare and public health system, supporting various aspects from disease surveillance and clinical diagnosis to epidemic response and environmental monitoring.
She made these remarks yesterday at the Brunei National Laboratory Strategic Planning Workshop held at a hotel in Gadong.
She said these services are provided by key government agencies under various ministries, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, and the Ministry of Development.
"They play a vital role together by coordinating laboratory detection, monitoring, and response in the fields of human, animal, food, and environmental sectors, thus playing an important part in protecting public health."
Ministry official Dr. Bailili recognized the importance of establishing a structured, resilient, and future-oriented laboratory system, and explained how Brunei’s National Health Laboratory System was launched in February 2024, providing a strategic vision and foundational direction for an integrated national laboratory system.
"These serve as our roadmap to deliver affordable, accessible, and equitable high-quality integrated healthcare and premium health laboratory services to all in Brunei."
She said that to refine this vision and ensure effective implementation, the "Brunei National Laboratory Strategic Plan 2026-2031" has been proposed to translate these policies into coordinated, measurable actions.
"The 'Brunei National Laboratory Strategic Plan' will serve as an operational roadmap, driving improvements in governance, quality management, infrastructure, workforce development, biosafety and biosecurity, intersectoral collaboration, and other fundamental elements in building a resilient and integrated national laboratory system."
She said that in formulating this plan, Brunei is also seeking collaboration and technical assistance from the Regional Public Health Laboratory Network (RPHLN), which comprises 14 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including ASEAN member states.
This network aims to strengthen national and regional laboratory systems through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and peer support. The network consists of a group of technical experts and consultants experienced in assisting other member countries in formulating national laboratory strategic plans.
Several sharing sessions during the workshop were led by regional laboratory experts, including Nik Jasmin Nik and Dr. Ravindran Thayan from Malaysia, as well as Kanate Temtrirath from Thailand.
The sessions were chaired by Jintana Sriwongsa, RPHLN Regional Project Director, who also facilitated some technical meetings during the workshop.
Other major activities included: defining the scope, vision, and mission of Brunei’s national laboratory strategic planning; conducting a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) of Brunei's current situation; verifying the results of the SWOT analysis and thematic areas; and developing the overall strategic goals, action plans, and activities. The workshop aims to formulate a comprehensive, cross-sectoral national laboratory strategic plan to implement the policy framework of Brunei’s National Health Laboratory System, strengthen laboratory governance, diagnostic services, quality systems, workforce capacity building, and regional cooperation—while aligning with "Brunei Vision 2035," the International Health Regulations (2005), and ASEAN health security priorities.
Dr. Leilawati hopes that the discussions and collaborations during the workshop, along with RPHLN's guidance and technical support, will enable Brunei to develop a robust, highly inclusive, and forward-looking plan that not only meets national needs but also makes meaningful contributions to regional health security and the resilience of global laboratory systems.
She made these remarks yesterday at the Brunei National Laboratory Strategic Planning Workshop held at a hotel in Gadong.
She said these services are provided by key government agencies under various ministries, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, and the Ministry of Development.
"They play a vital role together by coordinating laboratory detection, monitoring, and response in the fields of human, animal, food, and environmental sectors, thus playing an important part in protecting public health."
Ministry official Dr. Bailili recognized the importance of establishing a structured, resilient, and future-oriented laboratory system, and explained how Brunei’s National Health Laboratory System was launched in February 2024, providing a strategic vision and foundational direction for an integrated national laboratory system.
"These serve as our roadmap to deliver affordable, accessible, and equitable high-quality integrated healthcare and premium health laboratory services to all in Brunei."
She said that to refine this vision and ensure effective implementation, the "Brunei National Laboratory Strategic Plan 2026-2031" has been proposed to translate these policies into coordinated, measurable actions.
"The 'Brunei National Laboratory Strategic Plan' will serve as an operational roadmap, driving improvements in governance, quality management, infrastructure, workforce development, biosafety and biosecurity, intersectoral collaboration, and other fundamental elements in building a resilient and integrated national laboratory system."
She said that in formulating this plan, Brunei is also seeking collaboration and technical assistance from the Regional Public Health Laboratory Network (RPHLN), which comprises 14 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including ASEAN member states.
This network aims to strengthen national and regional laboratory systems through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and peer support. The network consists of a group of technical experts and consultants experienced in assisting other member countries in formulating national laboratory strategic plans.
Several sharing sessions during the workshop were led by regional laboratory experts, including Nik Jasmin Nik and Dr. Ravindran Thayan from Malaysia, as well as Kanate Temtrirath from Thailand.
The sessions were chaired by Jintana Sriwongsa, RPHLN Regional Project Director, who also facilitated some technical meetings during the workshop.
Other major activities included: defining the scope, vision, and mission of Brunei’s national laboratory strategic planning; conducting a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) of Brunei's current situation; verifying the results of the SWOT analysis and thematic areas; and developing the overall strategic goals, action plans, and activities. The workshop aims to formulate a comprehensive, cross-sectoral national laboratory strategic plan to implement the policy framework of Brunei’s National Health Laboratory System, strengthen laboratory governance, diagnostic services, quality systems, workforce capacity building, and regional cooperation—while aligning with "Brunei Vision 2035," the International Health Regulations (2005), and ASEAN health security priorities.
Dr. Leilawati hopes that the discussions and collaborations during the workshop, along with RPHLN's guidance and technical support, will enable Brunei to develop a robust, highly inclusive, and forward-looking plan that not only meets national needs but also makes meaningful contributions to regional health security and the resilience of global laboratory systems.