A new virology laboratory of the National Center of Expertise under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan was officially inaugurated on September 10 in the city of Turkistan. The lab was established by the Government of Kazakhstan as part of the country’s Pandemic Fund project, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The new laboratory is expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s laboratory system and enhance the country’s preparedness for preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, according to UNDP Kazakhstan.
Before the establishment of this facility, Turkistan Region did not have its own specialized virology laboratory, requiring biological samples to be sent to other regions of the country for testing. The creation of a modern laboratory will significantly reduce diagnostic turnaround times, improve access to laboratory services for the population, and strengthen epidemiological surveillance in one of Kazakhstan’s most densely populated regions.
Kazakhstan was among the countries selected to receive financing from the Pandemic Fund during its first round of global project funding aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness and health emergency response capacities. The Pandemic Fund grant supports the strengthening of the national public health system, with a focus on enhancing epidemiological surveillance, modernizing laboratory systems, ensuring biosafety and biosecurity, improving early detection and outbreak response mechanisms, strengthening infection prevention and control measures, and developing the health workforce.
WHO Representative in Kazakhstan Dr Skender Syla emphasized the importance of investing in resilient health systems: “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that strong laboratory systems are the foundation of national and global health security. The new laboratory in Turkistan will help ensure faster access to quality diagnostics, strengthen epidemiological surveillance, and improve the country’s readiness to respond to infectious disease threats. This achievement reflects the successful collaboration between the Government of Kazakhstan, WHO, the World Bank, UNDP and the Pandemic Fund.”
