By Phoebe Nzombe,

LabVoice Issue 02

Since its launch in 2009, the WHO AFRO Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) programme, has played a critical role in strengthening laboratory quality across Africa. Developed to address limited investment in laboratory systems, inconsistent practices, and unreliable test results, SLIPTA has helped restore confidence in laboratory medicine and improve patient care.

Before 2010, less than 1% of medical laboratories in Africa were accredited to international standards such as ISO 15189. Accreditation was often viewed as complex, costly, and unattainable, particularly for public-sector laboratories. ASLM was selected as the WHO AFRO implementing partner for SLIPTA to provide technical leadership and coordinated support across countries.

Since implementation, progress has been substantial. The number of accredited laboratories in Africa increased by 75%, from 382 in 2013 to 668 in 2020. By 2024, a total of 674 laboratories across 28 countries had achieved SLIPTA certification—demonstrating growing commitment to quality management systems continent-wide.

In 2025, ASLM strengthened laboratory quality systems through targeted SLIPTA and QMS capacity-building activities across Africa. In Southern and Eastern Africa, refresher and auditor trainings were conducted in Botswana, Rwanda, Malawi, and Burundi, equipping over 80 in-country auditors with updated skills on the revised ISO 15189:2022 standard and the SLIPTA Version 3 checklist.

At the regional level, ASLM facilitated a Regional SLIPTA Auditor Training in collaboration with the Botswana Ministry of Health, bringing together participants from eight countries to strengthen cross-border quality improvement capacity.

In West Africa, ASLM partnered with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) under the PROALAB project, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW. A West African SLIPTA Auditor Training was conducted in Accra, Ghana, in November 2025, training 45 participants through parallel English and French sessions. The initiative created a regional pool of auditors and mentors to support laboratories across ECOWAS member states.

To deepen understanding of the updated ISO 15189:2022 standard, ASLM facilitated both virtual and in-person trainings in Liberia in November 2025. These engagements-built stakeholder awareness, strengthened national alignment on quality goals, and equipped laboratory professionals with practical knowledge to implement accreditation requirements.

In 2026, ASLM’s QMS/SLIPTA Department will operationalise the Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS) Coordination Unit, develop and pilot new training packages, launch a regional LQMS training calendar, and conduct refresher trainings for SLIPTA auditors. These efforts will ensure sustained progress toward high-quality, reliable laboratory services across Africa.

Through SLIPTA, ASLM continues to advance a vision of strong, quality-driven laboratory systems—anchoring diagnostics as a cornerstone of resilient health systems and improved health outcomes.