To strengthen disease surveillance and the ability to detect high-risk pathogens, Ukraine has recently received modern diagnostic kits worth over USD 600 000 through WHO, supported by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Japan.
The provided supplies enable a timely detection of polio, diphtheria, influenza, COVID-19 and other high-risk pathogens across Ukraine, allowing prompt response to potential threats.
This is not the first time ASEF and Japan support disease surveillance in Ukraine: in 2025, they invested USD 27 000 in laboratory training, followed by an additional USD 24 000 in 2026 to further strengthen laboratory capacity.
“The world is constantly changing, and laboratory diagnostics is no exception. There is no room to stand still. The better we implement laboratory testing standards in our daily practice, the more accurate the results. In turn, this allows doctors to treat patients more effectively and make more precise diagnoses – particularly when it comes to infectious diseases,” says Anna Yushuk, Head of the Laboratory at the Volyn Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Anna is responsible for the accuracy of test results on which clinical decisions and patient health depend. In addition to her work at the hospital, Anna also serves as a laboratory expert at the Local Health Authority, supporting regional colleagues in finding solutions to complex professional challenges.
“Since January 2024, in line with a Ministry of Health order, laboratories are required to undergo accreditation under the international quality standard ISO 15189:2022, to be able to contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine. This is a complex process. Just 6 months ago, fewer than 1% of laboratories in Ukraine had successfully completed all stages of accreditation,” Anna explains.
With Anna at the helm, the laboratory at the Volyn Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital has now reached the third of four stages in the ISO accreditation process.
Defining quality and competence
In the context of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, harmonizing laboratory practice with European requirements is not only a technical task, but also a matter of professional expertise. Compliance with international standards means that laboratory results are high-quality, comparable and recognized both nationally and internationally.
ISO 15189:2022 is an international standard that defines requirements for quality and professional competence in medical laboratories, covering all stages of laboratory work – from sample collection and processing to reporting results. Adherence ensures the accuracy and reliability of laboratory results, patient and staff safety, appropriate staff qualifications, equipment control and continuously improved processes. Together, these elements form the foundation of professional laboratory diagnostics and international recognition of test results.
In response to these challenges, WHO in Ukraine assessed needs and based on its findings, organized training supported by ASEF and MoFA Japan.
A key feature of the training is a strong practical focus. Participants not only learn the theoretical foundations, but they also do practical exercises, analyse typical workplace scenarios and work with examples adapted to different types of laboratories – hospitals, blood collection centres and primary health-care laboratories.
Complex requirements of the standard are explained in clear, accessible language, and the training is built around real-life cases and ready-to-use templates that can be applied immediately.
After the training, participants return to their work with a clear understanding of what needs to be done and how, as well as with practical tools to improve laboratory performance, enabling laboratories to progress through all stages of assessment and obtain the required accreditation.
This work contributes to the strengthening of the national laboratory system and is aligned with the Health System Development Strategy 2030, particularly its priorities on quality, continuous improvement and workforce development. The training is part of a structured series of practical programmes developed by the WHO laboratory team in Ukraine for hospitals, blood centres and primary health-care laboratories.
“I requested a training and WHO’s experts provided us with strong support. The 5-day training was highly practical. All local laboratory specialists were eager to take part, as throughout the course – from morning until evening – every step was explained in detail, with continuous mentoring and hands-on guidance. We also received a number of WHO Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) templates developed to support laboratories in preparing for the accreditation. Importantly, this support did not end with the training: WHO remained in contact with us afterwards, helping with troubleshooting and practical questions. This combination of training, mentoring, webinars and ready-to-use tools represents systematic and comprehensive technical support that strengthens laboratory quality management and ultimately improves the reliability and accuracy of test results, diagnostics and patient care,” Anna shares.