Muscat: Enhancing the health sector's readiness to deal with various epidemiological, biological, and chemical risks and health outbreaks, the Central Public Health Laboratory has a new premises with more facilities.
The Central Public Health Laboratory is the highest national reference for advanced testing, epidemiological investigation, genetic analysis, and laboratory quality assurance. It represents the specialized scientific arm supporting epidemiological surveillance programs for communicable and non-communicable diseases, food, water, and environmental safety, and antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics, in addition to supporting evidence-based health decision-making.
The laboratory is designed according to the latest international standards and includes advanced technologies in molecular biology, gene sequencing, and intelligent laboratory information systems, which enhances the Sultanate of Oman's ability to advance in the fields of preventive and precision medicine, early warning, and rapid response to epidemics.
the laboratory was designed according to the latest international standards and includes advanced technologies in molecular biology, gene sequencing, and intelligent laboratory information systems, which enhances the Sultanate of Oman's ability to advance in the fields of preventive and precision medicine, early warning, and rapid response to epidemics.
The Central Public Health Laboratory is also one of the Ministry of Health's strategic programs in the field of health crisis management.
Dr Ahmed bin Salem al Mandhari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Planning and Regulation, affirmed that the opening of the Central Public Health Laboratory represents a significant national milestone reflecting the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to strengthening the health security system and consolidating the position of public health as a pillar of sustainable development, under the renewed renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
Dr Al Mandhari emphasized that the opening of the laboratory represents a qualitative leap in the concept of public health, in terms of monitoring, diagnosis, and rapid response. It reflects the Sultanate's commitment to placing human health at the forefront of its national priorities, in line with Oman Vision 2040, which has made quality of life and sustainable health a key focus of development.
The Central Lab has a pivotal role in the rapid detection of health hazards, the identification of microbial strains, and the monitoring of mutations. He noted that the Ministry of Health laboratories conducted approximately 22.9 million laboratory tests during 2025, in addition to the tests carried out in the rest of the health sector institutions.
The project opens broad horizons for scientific research, strengthens local and international academic partnerships, and contributes to building specialized Omani cadres in laboratory sciences to be a scientific platform for innovation and knowledge transfer, and a regional center for qualification and training after obtaining international accreditations.
Dr Ali bin Abdul Hussein Al Lawati, Advisor to the Minister's Office for Engineering Affairs at the Ministry of Health explained that the Central Lab is built on a land area of 53,000 square meters, with a building area of 19,480 square meters, at an estimated cost of 18.2 million Omani rials.
The building consists of three floors, including highly secure laboratories (BS 2-BS and BS 3-BS) and specialized laboratories in the fields of virology, bacteriology, chemistry, toxicology, newborn screening, genetic sequencing, and bioinformatics. It also contains a lecture hall, a library, meeting rooms, and training laboratories in several fields to support the training and continuing education system.
He said its importance lies in the fact that it enhances the diagnostic capabilities of the laboratories, as it will conduct advanced reference tests such as molecular, microbiological, serological, chemical, and other tests.
Dr Zakaria Al-Balushi, Director General of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: "The laboratory has come to support and strengthen the national health system by achieving a high level of quality, accuracy, and reliability, and by promoting the goals of public health and biosecurity. It provides highly efficient laboratory services that contribute to the early detection of diseases and support a rapid response to public health threats in accordance with national and international standards."
The Central Public Health Laboratory also supports national epidemiological surveillance programs with the confirmed diagnosis of infectious diseases and coordination with international organizations, as it is a center accredited by the World Health Organization in specific areas such as polio and influenza. It also supports the development and application of a comprehensive quality system in laboratories to ensure accreditation and conformity to international standards. Furthermore, it supports training and qualification programs for national personnel in public health laboratory sciences and participates in scientific research and studies related to public health, making it a scientific and research reference in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Central Public Health Laboratory is a cornerstone of the epidemiological surveillance and early warning system in the Sultanate of Oman. It coordinates with international organizations, as it is a WHO-accredited center in specific areas such as polio and influenza.
Dr. Hanan Al-Kindi pointed out that the Genetic Sequencing Laboratory is a unique reference laboratory in the Sultanate of Oman, distinguished by its advanced DNA and NGS sequencing technologies. This enables the analysis of bacterial evolution, monitoring of drug resistance, and contributes to supporting national programs for treating serious diseases such as HIV, seasonal influenza, polio, measles, rubella, 16sRNA testing, and the diagnosis of tuberculosis and mycobacteria.
Regarding the importance of the Central Public Health Laboratory at the regional and Middle Eastern levels, Dr Amina Al-Jardani, Senior Consultant Physician at the Central Public Health Laboratory, said: "The Central Public Health Laboratory in the Sultanate of Oman is one of the leading reference centers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It undertakes regional tasks accredited by the World Health Organization, including laboratories for influenza, polio, measles, and rubella, in addition to its role within the PulseNet Middle East network. It provides quality assurance programs in microbiology and is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging Diseases."
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