People can get reliable (COVID-19 test) results from laboratories as well as appropriate treatment based on the results.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has received panels of unknown samples from the World Health Organization (WHO) to examine the proficiency of COVID-19 testing laboratories across the country, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin informed on Friday.

Currently, the unknown samples are being distributed to 1,034 laboratories in 34 provinces of Indonesia, he said in a statement received here.

Once the panels have been tested by the laboratories, the Health Ministry will evaluate and analyze the test results to assess the laboratories’ performance.

"The EQAP (external quality assurance program) process is important, thus we can find out which laboratories have performed well, and which ones need to be improved," the minister explained.

Laboratories whose performance complies with global standards are very beneficial for the community, he said.

"People can get reliable (COVID-19 test) results from laboratories as well as appropriate treatment based on the results," he added.

The WHO has also distributed unknown sample panels for similar proficiency tests in other member countries.

Related news: Govt examining samples of COVID-19 new variants in Kudus, Bangkalan

In addition to the WHO, the proficiency testing of COVID-19 laboratories in Indonesia is also being supported by the European Union (EU) and the government of Australia.

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Program (RCPAQAP) will compile the results of the evaluation on the COVID-19 testing laboratories in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste.

The compiled results will then be sent to the WHO for the global COVID-19 EQAP report.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams, said that currently, health security depends on the ability to control COVID-19 transmission. Hence, her party is supporting Indonesia by providing expert policy and technical advice to curb the transmission of the virus.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, Vincent Piket, said that his party supports the distribution of the unknown sample panels and the supervision visits to various laboratories in Indonesia, as part of the WHO-EU Health Pandemic Response and Preparedness Program in Southeast Asia.

“The collaboration emphasizes the EU's commitment to bolster Indonesia's COVID-19 handling and health system. (Strengthening) global cooperation and solidarity were the efforts to eradicate the virus and encourage a sustainable global recovery," he added.

Related news: IBF organizer collects 6,233 samples for COVID-19 tests
Related news: PCR test laboratories should be available across districts: minister

Translator: Andi Firdaus, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022