On 7 September 2026, Ms. Chachsaran Lertkiattiwong, Director of the International Development Cooperation Division, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), delivered opening remarks at the Workshop on Food and Drug Analysis under the Strengthening Food and Drug Regulatory Capacity Project, which is part of the three-year Thailand-Lao PDR Development Cooperation Plan in the public health sector (2026-2028). The workshop was held at the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSc), Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.

The workshop, held from 7-11 September 2026, brought together 19 participants from the National Center of Food and Drug Analysis (NCFDA), Ministry of Health of the Lao PDR, and was implemented by the Department of Medical Sciences. It marked the first hands-on training activity under the project, following a series of online knowledge-sharing sessions conducted earlier.

The workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in food and drug analysis through hands-on training and exchanges with DMSc experts in three key areas: (1) endotoxin testing in injectable drugs and medical products; (2) detection and analysis of Salmonella and E. coli in food; and (3) analysis of heavy metals in water and food, food-contact materials, as well as veterinary drugs in food. The activity is expected to contribute to strengthening the technical capacity of Lao personnel and enhancing the effectiveness of food and drug regulatory systems in the Lao PDR, while further reinforcing Thailand-Lao PDR cooperation in the public health sector.