For the first time, a central laboratory verification center has opened in Erbil to serve the entire Kurdistan Region. This major step eliminates the need to send sensitive health tests to Baghdad for confirmation.
Dr. Dlovan Mohammed, Director General of Health in Erbil, confirmed the development. He explained that in the past, verifying test results for serious or chronic illnesses required sending samples to Baghdad. This often caused long delays and added stress for patients and doctors.
Now, thanks to this new center in Erbil, medical professionals can confirm test results locally. Dr. Dlovan said that HIV testing used to require Baghdad’s final approval, but now Erbil will handle it directly. This change saves time and improves service.
The Kurdistan Regional Government prioritized improving the health sector. With this center, the region’s medical labs now meet international quality standards. A Baghdad-based delegation praised the efforts of the Erbil lab team for their modern and trustworthy performance.
Dr. Dlovan noted that this achievement boosts confidence in the local health system. He also stressed that modern equipment and qualified staff now make accurate decisions in Erbil itself.
Following this launch, labs in Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja can send their tests to Erbil for final verification. They no longer need to rely on Baghdad.