Greetings from Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director WHO Health Emergencies

The IFBLS celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024.

To mark this occasion, we held a one-day symposium associated with our Chief Delegates and General Assembly of Delegates Meetings in Vancouver, Canada.

The theme of our Symposium was ‘Strengthening Diagnostics’ aligned to the WHO’s Resolution on the same topic.

We were delighted that Dr Michael Ryan, WHO’s Executive Director for Health Emergencies sent a special message to IFBLS and its members congratulating us on our anniversary, acknowledging our contribution to healthcare and public health, and recognising the decades of collaboration with WHO as Non-State Actors.

Dr Ryan made specific reference to our heroic efforts to diagnose and monitor the evolution of the Covid pandemic and recognised that it took a personal toll on our scientists who, nevertheless, continued to ensure that safe testing was provided.

Dr Ryan confirmed the central role we play in healthcare and how systems cannot provide adequate care to populations without our contribution.

IFBLS thanks Dr Ryan for this recognition and for his ongoing support of our work.

Please listen to his words, share them with your colleagues and feel proud.