Stakeholders look into medical laboratory sector on World Health Day

AMMAN – Jordan’s medical laboratory sector is marked by quality services, making the Kingdom a distinguished medical hub for the region, said HRH Princess Basma on Thursday. 

She made her remarks during the opening of the activities of the 4th International Jordanian Conference of the Jordan Society for Medical Laboratory Sciences and the 1st Conference for the Association of Laboratory Proprietors and Medical Analysis. 

“The number of medical laboratories in Jordan increased from two; one established in Maan in 1927 and the second in Amman in 1940, to reach 500 in the private and public sectors,” noted the princess, who added that there are currently 900 specialists and technicians working in the field. 

She underlined the importance of the event, which coincides with the World Health Day, marked annually on April 7. 

“This medical event comes in light of difficult regional and international situation, during which the lives and health of many are on stake due to the lack of healthcare services, acute shortage in medicine and medical supplies, the destruction of hospitals and the forced displacements,” said the princess. 

The three-day event brings together 400 experts from Arab and foreign countries to exchange expertise and know-how in a way that contributes to improving medical labs sector. 

Health Minister Ali Hiasat highlighted the ministry’s efforts to develop the sector, which resulted in better detection of infectious and communicable diseases.

He cited the establishment of a laboratory specialised in diagnosing influenza virus and another to detect salmonella.

On the other hand, President of the Association of Laboratory Proprietors and Medical Analysis Salwa Ammarin stressed the technicians’ commitment to improving the services of the sector and their efforts to establish a professional association that includes all workers in the field. 

The event is organised in cooperation with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the Arab Federation of Clinical Biology.