Since, IQLS has been working on the GLLP implementation in Thailand, with the implication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Thailand office, National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH), and other stakeholders to carry out a two year in-country programme. To facilitate the GLLP implementation process, a One Health platform was created with the secretariat based at the NIH in the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSc).

To support the GLLP implementation in Thaïland, an IQLS representative office was created in Bangkok. The IQLS Thailand team is composed of Dr Shruti Malik, International laboratory specialist, Ms Ananya Muangkong, Communication officer, and Ms Coosje Tuijn, Project coordinator working remotely. The role of the team is to serve as the boots-on-ground for GLLP implementation and ensure its progression, and to support communication and marketing needs of the national stakeholders. 

Over the first months IQLS experts held various meetings to introduce GLLP, discuss the country’s priorities, and to nominate the Thailand GLLP Working Group. Also, closely collaborating with the national stakeholders, a human and animal laboratory system assessment was carried out virtually.

On 11 November 2021 the GLLP Kick-Off meeting was held in a hybrid format (online + F2F) and was strongly supported by the senior leadership at the NIH, DMSc. Dr. Supakit Sirilak, Director General DMSc, chaired and convened the Kick-Off meeting. It was attended by 44 participants with significant representation from national institutions and ministries, and GLLP partners. The results of the laboratory system assessment were presented, highlighting the various strengths and areas for improvement, and detailed discussions occurred around the GLLP’s two-year timeline. In the closing remarks Dr. Sirilak reinforced the importance of GLLP as a program aimed at empowering the national laboratory system using a One Health approach. 

After the formalization of the Technical Working Group (TWG) in early 2022, a TWG Kick-Off Meeting was organized on 31 March to review the various framework documents for GLLP implementation in Thailand including the TWG terms of reference, mentor and participant selection criteria and mechanisms for their recruitment.

Next steps
The next major steps include the revision and validation of the framework documents discussed during the TWG Kick-Off Meeting, followed by the selection of national mentors and participants and their pairing for future mentorship activities.

About the GLLP
The goal of GLLP is to foster and mentor current and emerging laboratory leaders to build, strengthen and sustain national laboratory systems, using the One Health approach. The GLLP was founded through a multisectoral collaboration of six leading international organizations, including he Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). These partners support the advancement of laboratory systems across the globe and are committed to the vision of laboratory leaders empowering national laboratory systems using a One Health approach to strengthen health security of human, animal, food and water laboratories.

For more information, please visit the GLLP website: https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-laboratory-leadership-programme