While there are many medical laboratories in Burundi, the quality of medical diagnostics in Burundi is negatively affected by frequent breakdowns of equipment, lack of access to advanced equipment and materials and lack of knowledge and experience among laboratory staff.The project will establish a Diagnostic Solutions Centre that will be able to provide: backup and advanced tests, services of installation-repair-maintenance combined with training of staff, rental of equipment and "sales plus training" packages for equipment. The clients for these "tailored" services will be the existing health structures such as hospitals, health centres, clinics and medical laboratories. The centre will be located in Bujumbura and will provide its services to the health structures in the city and will also organise a system of (refrigerated) collection of samples from health structures in the country. The partners Ibis-Pharma from Belgium and Socophar s.u.r.l. will enter into a joint venture. The project is expected to upgrade the diagnostics and so contribute to improved health care in Burundi. Since most medical equipment in Burundi is obtained by direct imports and donations, the after-sales service and staff training is usually poor and/or costly. The centre aims to fill this gap.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The project will establish both a HRM and CSR policy for the joint venture company and it will also obtain the ISO 9001:2008 certification on Quality and Management. The CSR/HRM policies will follow the same lines as the policies of the local partner and the applicant mentioned above.Impact• Employment and working conditionsThe company will- pay good salaries.- provide a safe and healthy working environment and working conditions.- complete free healthcare for staff and dependents.- transport and food allowances.- professional trainings.• Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe innovative aspect of the project will be in particular the provision of repair-service-training "packets" to the medical laboratories. The outsourcing by existing labs of (advanced) tests could also be regarded as innovative. The organising of a system for sample collection from outside Bujumbura and reporting results by internet/ telephone will also be new. While the major part of the turnover of the new company would be made by performing tests that partially may also be available from existing medical laboratories, the above-mentioned aspects will make the project sufficiently new for the country.• Chain effectsAll major necessary supplies will be imported.The direct clients of the centre will have access to backup and advanced tests as well as repair services and regular supplies of reagents etc. This will enable them to provide more reliable, better and cheaper services to the final customers i.e. the patients. The access to better quality health care for the patients in both Bujumbura and in other (rural) parts of the country will improve.• Impact on the sectorThe health structures will benefit from access to backup and advanced tests and technical services as well as from the staff training provided. The project will also provide training and guest lectures from experts of renowned reference labs and universities. Improved and more reliable functioning of (non-commercial) hospital laboratories may enhance their position to attract funding. The project intends to be a hub for improvement in the sector and can play a role in pioneering the formation of a professional association of medical diagnostics and encouraging cooperation between public and private sector players.The centre also will collaborate with universities and NGOs in research programmes and will provide places for trainees. The local partner submitted Letters of Interest of two Government Hospitals and one NGO.• EnvironmentThe project will not require an extensive ESIA but will have a (limited) environmental assessment conducted as required to obtain a licence for the premises. Laboratory waste will be disposed of through an incinerator installed by the project. Staff training includes attention for the environment.• Position of womenThe project will employ and train twenty female staff (52%) all in medium and senior positions.