ULAN BATOR, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is strengthening oversight of medicines and medical devices with the launch of the National Reference Laboratory for Medicines and Medical Devices and a nationwide review of pharmaceuticals on the domestic market.
Speaking at the laboratory's inauguration on Tuesday, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral directed relevant authorities to conduct an assessment of medicines available in Mongolia within one month.
He acknowledged concerns over the quality of some locally produced and imported medicines, stressing that protecting citizens from substandard pharmaceutical products will be a key government priority.
Officials described the facility, built with funding from the World Bank (WB), as a successful result of cooperation between the Mongolian government, the WB, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, warned of the global threat posed by poor-quality and counterfeit medicines.
Mongolian Health Minister Enkhbayar Batshugar described the new facility as a major milestone for the country's healthcare system, saying it will strengthen the regulation, monitoring and quality assurance of medicines and medical devices.
With the laboratory now operational, Mongolia's testing capacity is expected to increase significantly, enabling the analysis of 4,000 to 5,000 samples annually.
The facility is expected to enhance the country's ability to verify and monitor the quality of pharmaceutical products and medical devices, helping ensure safer healthcare services and stronger consumer protection nationwide. ■
