Nationwide preventive maintenance programme supports laboratory equipment management

Bagmati province, Nepal  - The Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MoHFS) and WHO Country Office for Nepal, and catalytic funding from the Pandemic Fund, conducted a nationwide Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) programme for laboratory equipment from May to July 2026. The initiative aimed to strengthen laboratory readiness and ensure the reliability of critical diagnostic equipment across Nepal. The programme brought together biomedical engineers, biomedical equipment technicians, laboratory managers, laboratory personnel and technical officers from the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH), Provincial Health Logistics Management Centres, the National Innovation Center and Provincial Public Health Laboratories (PPHLs). Preventive maintenance activities were successfully completed at NPHL, STIDH and all seven PPHLs. Reliable laboratory equipment is essential for accurate diagnosis, disease surveillance and timely outbreak response. Through the implementation of the Integrated Preventive Maintenance Checklist 2025 (developed and endorsed by the National Health Training Center), the programme strengthened provincial capacity for equipment management and supported laboratories in meeting ISO 15189:2022 quality standards. These efforts contributed to improving the quality, reliability and consistency of diagnostic services while advancing accreditation and quality assurance efforts. The programme built on a coordination mechanism established during a national consultative workshop on the Guideline for Management of Biomedical Equipment 2082, organized by the MoHFS with support from WHO Nepal in January 2025. This network was subsequently leveraged by NPHL to mobilize technical experts for preventive maintenance activities at NPHL, STIDH and all seven PPHLs. WHO Nepal facilitated coordination between NPHL and the participating biomedical engineers and technicians, while providing financial support, technical guidance and field-level support throughout the implementation of the activities. WHO will continue to support the institutionalization of routine preventive maintenance, quality assurance systems and follow-up assessments to help sustain laboratory performance and strengthen Nepal's preparedness for public health emergencies.