Strengthening of Medical Laboratory Services in the Region

Steering Committee Meeting

November 21-22, 2005

The fourth annual meeting of the Steering Committee for the Project was held in Trinidad & Tobago on 21-22 November 2005. The objectives of the meeting were:

• To provide an update to Committee Members re implementation of the Third Year Work Programme

• Propose and agree the Fourth Year Work Programme for the Project.

The Steering Committee included persons representing:

• The Deputy Regional Authorizing Officer for the Project (Chair)

• European Union Delegation of Trinidad and Tobago

• CARIFORUM

• CARICOM

• Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)

• Medical Laboratory Technology Training Institution

• Caribbean Association of Medical Technologists (CASMET)

• A subset of participating Countries

  • Jamaica

  • Dominican Republic

  • Barbados

  • Dominica

  • St. Kitts and Nevis

  • Belize

  • Anguilla

• Private Laboratory Representative

The Steering Committee noted the fact that the Project extension has been granted and thanked the European Union for extending the project until March 2007 and for approving the parallel project for the British and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)

In the area of Legislation and Accreditation

Recognising

the implementation of an accreditation system is critical to the success and sustainability of the project gains and by extension the improvement of health of the region.

Noting

1. that having a fully developed accreditation system reduces the barriers to regional and international trade and facilitates in the free movement of goods and services.

2. that the project is developing model legislation and guidelines as a reference for countries

Cognisant

1. the project is of a limited duration

2. that there are existing accreditation bodies, limited resources and that the high cost of international accreditation impacts negatively on the region

Resolved

1. that the governments endorse and support the implementation of the proposed Caribbean Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (CLAS)

2. that governments develop new or revise if necessary, existing legislation for licensing of medical laboratories to incorporate the relevant standards

The Project was asked to address a number of issues including the following:

• Harmonise project activities with the activities of other agencies in the region involved in human resource training

• Mobilise countries to provide information on counterpart contributions – identifying a focal person to document counterpart contributions

• Advocate in the regional fora for an expanded and integrated health information strategy that incorporates health and other related sectors that impact on health within and across countries

Sustainability of Project activities

• The Committee recommended that countries develop and implement strategic health plans which support the laboratory quality initiative and incorporate the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

• PAHO and CARICOM be requested to incorporate all activities related to the sustainability of project gains into the CCH 3 initiatives
  
  

2006 Work Programme
Recognising
the sterling work of the Project Implementation and Management Units , the Steering Committee endorsed the 2006 Work Programme of the project

Human Resource Development
The Steering Committee endorsed the incorporation of a competency-based curriculum for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) in the training institutions in the region

Microbiology

Recognising
that Microbiology in the region is systemically weak

And noting
that this component of the project was significantly delayed due to problems in recruiting appropriate staff

And cognizant
that there will not be a further extension of the ACP component of the project

Resolves
that governments urgently increase the level of support and resources provided for the implementation of the Microbiology initiatives