OFFICE FUNCTIONS

Per Department Order No. 2021-0421, the following are the functions of the Office for Health Laboratories (OHL):

• Develop and provide the overall strategic direction, policies, programs, and plans, including infrastructure and equipment investments and supplies, in the development of the Philippine Health Laboratory System; 

• Establish and implement systems and programs; 

• Serve as the technical authority in developing the laboratory biosafety and biosecurity standards, policies, plans, and measures to prevent/reduce bio-risk and prevent possible bioterrorism; 

• Evaluate the performance of public health and clinical laboratories by ensuring compliance to laboratory quality management systems and quality assurance program; 

• Provide technical and administrative standards and guidelines for the national reference laboratories, subnational reference laboratories, regional public health laboratories, and clinical laboratories; 

• Participate in the inter-agency international networks for laboratory response to uphold national security and prevent international threats.