LMHRA to build quality control laboratory in Careysburg

By Lewis S. Teh

Monrovia, Liberia, April 25, 2025 – The Liberia Medicine and Health Regulatory Authority or LMHRA discloses plans to construct a modern quality control laboratory in Careysburg, Montserrado County.

“The LMHRA is concluding negotiation for a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) agreement for the modernization of its Quality Control Laboratory in Careysburg.”

Director General, Doctor Luke Bawo made the disclosure here Thursday at the EJS Ministerial Complex Congo town, while delivering a special remark at the opening of the 10th Anniversary celebration of Celebrate Lab @west Africa Conference 2025.

The conference held under the theme: “Propelling Our Professionals Into the Future of Now” which saw the convergence of scores of local and international health practitioners from across Africa and the world is being hosted by Celebrate Lab @West Africa and co-hosted by Africa Bio Enterprise Inc.

Dr. Bawo says additionally, the Authority is contemplating deploying technologies to track health commodities and manage routine processes.

“Ladies and Gentlemen; Distinguished Guests; Esteemed Speakers, and Participants; It is both an honor and a privilege to address such a distinguished group of professionals, researchers, and innovators dedicated to the critical field of laboratory science”, he continues. 

According to him, it is a pleasure to have seen so many health practitioners united by the shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration in laboratory practices.

“As we commence this 10th Anniversary celebration of CelebrateLab 2025, we are mindful that this conference is not just about discussions and presentations; we are setting the stage for transformative ideas and partnerships that have the potential to shape the future of laboratory science”, he says.

“We want to position our laboratories to be at the forefront of scientific discovery, providing the critical data and insights that drive advancements in healthcare, public safety, and environmental sustainability.”

He adds that the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority understands and appreciate the value added in having a responsive laboratory system.

 He underscores that laboratories play a vital role in supporting drug regulatory authorities (DRAs) by ensuring safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceuticals throughout their lifecycle. 

Doctor Bawo outlines several key functions of laboratories, noting that they perform extensive testing on raw materials, intermediate products, and final drug formulations to ensure specified quality standards, and said data is crucial for DRAs when assessing product quality.

Stability Testing

He says by conducting stability studies, laboratories provide critical information about the shelf life and proper storage conditions for drugs, which DRAs require for approval.

 Generating Robust Data Clinical Trials

 According to him, laboratories involved in clinical research generate comprehensive data on the safety and efficacy of new drugs during clinical trials, and such data is submitted to DRAs for evaluation and approval.

Assay Development

According t him, developing and validating analytical methods allows laboratories to produce reliable and reproducible data that supports regulatory submissions.

He says adhering to GLP ensures that laboratories operate in compliance with established standards, and that compliance builds trust and provides requisite documentation that DRAs rely on.

The Documentation and Reporting

The LMHRA boss explains that maintaining thorough records and accurate reports of laboratory tests helps DRAs verify that all regulatory requirements are met.

 He says laboratories can participate in pharma covigilance by monitoring and reporting adverse effects and other safety concerns once drugs are on the market, thus aiding DRAs in improving post-market surveillance.

Public Health Studies 

Accordingly, he adds that laboratories can partner with DRAs on research initiatives that address public health concerns, providing valuable data for assessing drug efficacy and safety in real-world scenarios.

 The LMHRA DG however went on to say there are many more areas that laboratories could be of support to Drugs Regulatory Authorities including Batch Testing, Capacity Building, Skill Development, etcetera and etcetera.

“We look forward to an engaging and productive symposium that will not only broaden our perspectives but also forge stronger connections within the laboratory community”, he concludes. Editing by Jonathan Browne