1. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office Session 2 Laboratory strengthening Dr Cornelia Hennig Stop TB and Leprosy Elimination World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Manila, Philippines 9-12 December 2014 The Ninth Technical Advisory Group and National TB Programme Managers Meeting Manila Philippines, 9-11 December 2014

2. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office NRL/SRL: Strengthening and coordinating technical assistance NRL/SRL: Strengthening and coordinating technical assistance

3. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office TA requests from countries to SRL Increasingly complex and multi-focal: in-country –National Strategic Planning and NRL activity planning –DRS and surveillance –Xpert implementation –Training (safe working practices) –Lab assessments –Support for lab design/upgrade –QA microscopy, culture & DST –data management, –Participation in joint missions, rGLC –coordination Need also more remote (desk) work

4. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office Way forward Countries: –Encourage SRL to have at least one on-site visit including central/at least provincial level per year –Secure funding for SRL (national and donors) SRL Develop laboratory AND programmatic expertise to support NRL’s and for in-country activities Train next generation of consultants WHO/WPR –Establish skills set for each of the SRL’s in the region and update regularly –Co-ordinate TA requests that one SRL cannot cover GLI –Support training of next generation consultants, focus programmatic expertise

5. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office NRL/SRL: Strengthening and coordinating technical assistance Comments from SRL and NRL Discussion