Sana'a - Saba:
The fifth Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine Conference, titled "Reality and Ambition," commenced on Tuesday in Sana'a, organized by the Ministry of Public Health and Environment, represented by the National Center for Central Public Health Laboratories.
Over three days, the conference will bring together 1,500 participants, including local , international laboratory medicine specialists, medical professionals, representatives from healthcare companies and institutions. Attendees will discuss 31 working papers focusing on diagnostic laboratory services, blood transfusion systems, comprehensive quality standards, and the relationship between physicians and laboratory technicians.
During the opening ceremony, Minister of Public Health and Environment Dr. Ali Shiban emphasized the conference’s significance as part of a series of scientific gatherings highlighting the pivotal role of medical laboratories in modern healthcare systems. He underscored the critical function of laboratories in accurate diagnosis and patient monitoring.
Dr. Shiban urged the adoption of technological advancements to enhance patient care and improve medical service quality. He stressed the need for collaboration between clinicians and laboratory professionals to facilitate informed medical decision-making.
The minister also addressed the importance of redefining laboratory medicine as a knowledge-based and decision-making hub rather than a supplementary service. He called for leveraging modern technology within medical infrastructure and promoting applied research rooted in local needs rather than imported models. Additionally, he advocated for interdisciplinary cooperation to build an integrated healthcare system.
Dr. Shiban expressed hope that the conference outcomes would address challenges related to diagnostic accuracy, emphasizing that laboratory work is a lifesaving service, not a commercial enterprise. He warned against errors that could lead to legal accountability and punitive measures against non-compliant laboratories.
The minister praised the efforts of the organizing committee in preparing for the event.
For his part, Dr. Abdulilah Al-Harazi, Director-General of the National Center for Central Public Health Laboratories and Deputy Chair of the conference, described previous conferences organized by the center as milestones in strengthening the laboratory diagnostic system, which is integral to national health security.
He reiterated the conference’s primary goal of fostering collective awareness about the importance of laboratories and the need to empower them scientifically , professionally as critical tools in diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Al-Harazi highlighted the center’s role in training laboratory personnel, including medical and laboratory students, as well as organizing refresher courses for workers in public and private laboratories. He welcomed collaborative activities between universities, the center, and diagnostic facilities to enhance service quality and chart a scientific roadmap for future diagnostic medicine.
Abdulrahman Al-Wazir, Head of the Preparatory Committee, stated that the fifth Laboratory Medicine Conference aims to leverage modern technology to turn challenges into opportunities. He noted that specialized conference themes include artificial intelligence (AI) applications in diagnostic data analysis, laboratory automation, and reducing medical errors.
Al-Wazir mentioned the participation of international experts via video link and the launch of an electronic platform providing AI-based guidelines for laboratories—the first initiative of its kind in Yemen. He reaffirmed the vital role of diagnostic laboratory medicine as one of the largest professional groups in healthcare, essential for diagnosis, treatment, and public awareness.
Dr. Hafez Al-Noud, Head of the Scientific Committee, outlined the conference’s objectives and themes, noting that discussions would revolve around diagnostic laboratory services, blood transfusion, quality systems, and clinician-laboratory technician collaboration.
Representatives from sponsoring companies emphasized the importance of partnerships between laboratory medicine and other medical fields to advance healthcare services.
Earlier, Minister Dr. Ali Shiban, alongside Dr. Abdulilah Al-Harazi and Abdulrahman Al-Wazir, inaugurated the conference’s accompanying exhibition featuring companies importing and marketing laboratory medical products.
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