LAHORE: The Institute of Public Health (IPH), in collaboration with the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC), has developed revised minimum service delivery standards for pathological laboratories.

An IPH spokesperson says a pilot project is being launched in Lahore in this respect, which will be later replicated in other cities of Punjab.

For the assessment of implementation of these revised standards by the laboratories, he said, a team of volunteer pathologists on behalf of PHC will inspect the labs and submit its report to the commission.

The initiative is aimed at improving the quality of clinical laboratories.

Addressing at a training workshop organised here on Monday on the revised service delivery standards and assessment of the laboratories, IPH Dean Prof Dr Zarfashan Tahir said the institute is collaborating with many international and local organisations to improve the public health and prevent diseases.

A memorandum of cooperation has also been signed, under which IPH will continue its cooperation with PHC for the improvement of the health sector and development of health care system and institutions for human resource training, research and awareness, she said.

PHC Director Dr Mushtaq Silharia said a new procedure has been evolved for effective monitoring of diagnostic labs and to further improve their performance and quality.

In this regard, volunteer pathologists were invited in a piloting event to make them aware of the PHC procedures, terms of reference (TORs) and assessment mechanism.

Dr Mushtaq briefed the workshop participants about the revised delivery standards for clinical laboratories and inspection tools.

Dr Zahid Asghar deplored that there are more than 1,800 clinical laboratories in the province, but so far only 900 are registered with the PHC.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2023