O contributo dos serviços de diagnóstico laboratorial para o acesso universal à saúde nos países da Comunidade de Língua Portuguesa

Objective: To promote the debate on the importance of the laboratory services in supporting public health and health services in Portuguese-speaking countries, from a global and One Health perspective. Methods: literature review, analysis of the preparatory papers for the 5th Tropical Medicine National Congress, presentations by speakers from Cape Verde, Angola and Portugal and the ensuing debate. Results: we identified the challenges that must be overcome in order to create a network of diagnostic laboratories that can stimulate universal access to health care for the populations. Measuresand strategies based on the experience of health systems in different Portuguese-speaking countries are proposed. The contribution of the IHMT/NOVA Laboratories to this strategy was reviewed. Conclusion: There is no universal access to quality health care without quality laboratory diagnostic services and without promoting a correct, effective and sustainable interrelationship between national reference laboratories, hospital and private, and research laboratories, all cooperating in line with health services to ensure the best quality health care.