Bandar Seri Begawan, Tuesday, 22 September 2026 / 10 Rabiulakhir 1448H – The Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam, in collaboration with the Regional Public Health Laboratory (RPHL) Network Secretariat, officially opened the RPHL Network Annual Partnership Forum 2026 today at The Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong.
Held under the theme “Advancing Partnerships for Sustainable Laboratory Responses: From Partnership to Preparedness,” the three-day forum brings together close to 200 local and international participants, including representatives from national laboratories, subject matter experts, development partners and regional networks from across Asia and the Pacific.
The forum provides a platform to strengthen regional collaboration, exchange expertise and advance sustainable and resilient laboratory systems. It will also review progress under the RPHL Network Strategic Work Plan 2023-2027, discuss emerging issues affecting laboratory systems and identify opportunities for capacity-building and future regional initiatives.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by the forum’s co-hosts, Dr Hajah Zainun binti Zaini, Acting Director of the Department of Laboratory Services, Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam and Ms Jintana Sriwongsa, Regional Programme Director of the RPHL Network.
The forum was officially opened by Dr Phichet Banyati, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, Thailand, and Co-Chair of the RPHL Network. This was followed by a keynote address entitled “Future-Ready Laboratory Systems: Transforming Challenges into Resilient and Rapid Action for Public Health Emergencies” was delivered by Professor Wang Linfa of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School and Executive Director of Singapore’s Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE).
A key highlight of the opening ceremony was the official launch of the Brunei Darussalam National Laboratory Strategic Plan (BDNLSP) 2026-2030 by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health.
The BDNLSP 2026-2030 sets out a five-year roadmap to translate Brunei Darussalam’s national laboratory policy framework into coordinated action. The Plan encompasses laboratories that contribute to public health functions across government, academia and the private sector and supports the development of an integrated, resilient and accessible national laboratory system through a unified One Health approach.
The Plan focuses on four strategic areas: strengthening whole-of-nation governance and leadership; optimising integrated, reliable and high-quality laboratory testing; strengthening national coordination and preparedness for public health threats; and enhancing the laboratory regulatory framework. Its implementation will strengthen public health security and support timely action against current and emerging health threats.
Throughout the forum, participants will take part in plenary sessions, technical workshops, interactive discussions and a crisis management tabletop exercise. The programme covers quality management systems, external quality assurance, national laboratory strategic planning, biorisk management, metagenomics, laboratory supply chains and preparedness for emerging public health threats, including Disease X.
Established in 2019 under the Global Health Security Agenda, the RPHL Network comprises 14 member countries across Asia and the Pacific. The Network facilitates the sharing of information, knowledge and resources among public health laboratories and promotes capacity-building and regional collaboration to strengthen laboratory systems.
The RPHL Network Annual Partnership Forum 2026 will continue until 24 September 2026, concluding with discussions on sustainable financing, strategic investment, partnership models and potential flagship initiatives aimed at further strengthening regional laboratory preparedness.
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Reference: DLS/CC/PR/2026/RPHLNAPF
