Regional Infectious Substance Shipping Program and Standard Operating Procedure Development Workshop

At Miracle Grand Convention Hotel Bangkok, Thailand May 17 – 19, 2023

      In collaboration with key development partners including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), FIND, WOAH, WHO and SEARO, the RPHL Network organized a workshop on the Regional Infectious Substance Shipping Program and Standard Operating Procedure   Development for its members. To underline One Health laboratory, delegates from animal Health laboratories were participated.

    Hosted by the Department of Medical Sciences together with technical support of Sandia National Laboratories (operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC) and key experts in the region, the workshop was opened by Dr. Supakit Sirilak, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences. In addition, the participants had opportunities to join ‘Market Place & partnership Sessions’ of ‘Annual Partnership Forum of the RPHL Network which was preceded on 16 May 2023.

    The launching of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in Washington DC on February 13,2014 and Helsinki Meeting in May 5-6, 2014 marks collectively global efforts in moving towards a safe and secure world from infectious threats, as well as promoting global health security as an international security priority. During the Helsinki Meeting, the Royal Thai Government, through the Ministry of Public Health, announced its leadership in taking up the two Actions Packages including “Detect 1: National Laboratory System”. Working closely with key development partners and lead countries of Detect1, a series of regional activities to strengthen collaboration of human health laboratory and animal health laboratory as well collaboration with Detect 5 have been conducted through the Department of Medical Sciences of Thailand since 2015.

    Led by Thailand through the Department of Medical Sciences, the RPHL Network has been established using a regional approach. Among others, the RPHL Network aims to enhance capacity on laboratory preparedness and response for its members in order to fulfill the identified gaps resulting from the Joint External Evaluation [JEE]. The National Contact Points from RPHL Member States have been identified. Cited the Inception Workshop for Public Health Laboratory Network in late October 2019, Bangkok, Thailand, one of priorities proposed by the participants is the issue related to specimen referral and shipment.

    This workshop supports the network’s capacity building efforts as part of the strategic workplan for the RPHL Network (2023-2027). Seminars for virtual follow-up have been organized. Senior managers from 12 members of the Regional Public Health Laboratory (RPHL) network who are in charge of managing and coordinating national shipping programs received training on relevant and applicable regulations for transporting infectious substances with a focus on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations to demonstrate competency for employer certification. Senior managers represent national animal health laboratories and human health laboratories.  The RPHL Network is working together to promote One Health lab networks and enhance national capacity for laboratory willingness and response. The goal of this workshop is not only training scientist in infectious substance shipping but also train them on writing SOPs and assist and mentor them as they develop SOPs, policies and program plans related to shipping.