Event highlights
A 3-day Tuberculosis Laboratory Network Accreditation Supervisors Training was held in Ankara on 11–13 May 2026 as part of the European Union-funded project titled “Strengthening national capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies” in Türkiye. The training was organized by the Department of Microbiology Reference Laboratories and Biological Products at the General Directorate of Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Türkiye, with support from the WHO Country Office in Türkiye.
More than 27 health professionals from 12 provinces across Türkiye participated in the training, which brought together experts, laboratory professionals and future supervisors to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) laboratory surveillance, accreditation, quality assurance systems and genomic surveillance capacities across the country.
A key objective of the training was to expand and strengthen the national pool of accreditation supervisors who will support oversight, mentoring and continuous improvement within the TB laboratory network.
The activity is part of ongoing efforts to reinforce national laboratory systems and public health preparedness, particularly in earthquake-affected provinces. Through supportive supervision and capacity-building activities, the initiative aims to improve the quality, timeliness and standardization of TB diagnostic services throughout the country.
Strengthening supervision and laboratory quality standards
Speaking at the opening of the training, Ekrem Sağtaş, Head of the Department of Microbiology Reference Laboratories and Biological Products at the General Directorate of Public Health, highlighted the importance of establishing a strong and sustainable supervisory structure across the country.
“Our aim is to create a strong national pool of accreditation supervisors who can support laboratories throughout Türkiye with standardized approaches, quality assurance and continuous supervision,” said Sağtaş. “Good laboratory standardization is essential to ensure reliable diagnostic services, strengthen genomic surveillance and support effective TB control efforts nationwide.”
Ahmet Arslantürk, Microbiology Specialist at the National TB Reference Laboratory, emphasized the importance of strengthening laboratory services and increasing the number of trained supervisors across the country.
“We are continuously working to strengthen TB laboratory services across all provinces of Türkiye,” said Arslantürk. “Through this training, we are also increasing the number of qualified accreditation supervisors who will support laboratory standardization, quality assurance and supportive supervision mechanisms across the country. These efforts are essential for maintaining reliable and timely TB diagnostic and surveillance services.”
WHO Public Health Officer Bahadır Sucaklı also emphasized the importance of investing in laboratory systems and workforce capacity as part of broader health security efforts.
“Strong laboratory networks and qualified supervisory systems are critical components of preparedness and response capacities,” said Sucaklı. “Through this collaboration, we are supporting sustainable capacity building that strengthens surveillance, improves diagnostic quality and contributes to more resilient public health systems in Türkiye.”
WHO Türkiye’s work on supporting laboratory capacity building in Türkiye
The training was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s General Directorate of Public Health and the WHO Country Office in Türkiye as part of the European Union-funded project on “Strengthening national capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies”. Implemented since 2021 by the Ministry of Health of Türkiye with support from the WHO Country Office in Türkiye and financed by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, the project aims to enhance preparedness for public health emergencies, reinforce technical competencies and improve coordination across provinces.
The overall objective of the project is to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Türkiye and contribute to the longer-term reinforcement of emergency preparedness and response capacities. By investing in the professional development of health professionals, particularly in earthquake-affected regions, the initiative contributes to greater national capacity to prevent, detect and manage infectious diseases. Improved laboratory surveillance, diagnostic quality and genomic surveillance capacities strengthen routine service delivery while supporting readiness for future public health emergencies.
To date, the project has supported the training of more than 1100 laboratory professionals and health personnel across Türkiye through specialized trainings on surveillance systems, laboratory quality management, genomic surveillance and emergency preparedness.
Through sustained collaboration and targeted capacity development, the Ministry of Health and the WHO Country Office in Türkiye continue to work towards a more responsive and resilient health system for communities across Türkiye.