Building sustainable future generations of laboratory leaders

WHO is building future generations of laboratory leaders in the Region and globally.

Developing reliable and sustainable laboratory systems necessitates strong leadership and management for which laboratory leaders need meaningful education and training. This was shown during the COVID-19 pandemic which put extraordinary pressure on health services worldwide and clearly demonstrated the importance of robust laboratory systems.

Countries need the capacity to build, strengthen and sustain national laboratory systems, and increase clinician confidence in laboratory services and the general public’s trust in health systems.

WHO, through the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme, operates globally to identify professionals working in human, animal and environmental health laboratories and nurture them to become laboratory leaders.

WHO selects national experts as facilitators to train and mentor laboratory staff in the nine essential competencies needed for leaders to build and direct sustainable laboratory systems.