Bandar Seri Begawan - The Minister of Health yesterday noted that more local experts are being trained and added to the workforce at the Department of Scientific Services, which is equipped with the latest international equipment and manned by 17 local experts.

Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Mohd Yusof told the media this on the sidelines of the opening ceremony for the new block at the Department of Scientific Services yesterday.

These specialists are needed to examine and detect matters especially in assisting other government agencies like the Royal Brunei Police Force, Narcotics Control Bureau, Fire and Rescue Department and so on in acquiring concrete evidence, as well as to analyse food whose 'halalness' is dubious and in examining contaminated food that could threaten the health of the public.

"We go for quality service and strive to acquire the International Standardisation ISO 171005 target recognised internationally. We also carry out quality control from time to time to ensure durability and exact findings from laboratories," the minister added.

The foundation-laying ceremony for the new block of the Department of Scientific Services under the Ministry of Health was witnessed on May 30, 2012.

The project comes under the 9th National Development Plan (2007-2012) and was completed by the end of last year at a cost of $7.5 million. It boasts five floors and is equipped with facilities such as a Security and Quality Radiation Unit, Tobacco Test Lab, Narcotics and Toxicology Lab, Document Examination and Criminalistics Lab, Arson Lab as well as DNA and Forensic Biology Lab.

The. Narcotic Lab provides scientific analysis services on controlled drugs in urine samples or items confiscated by government enforcement agencies.

The Toxicology Lab provides analysis on biological samples and evidence items to detect drugs, alcohol, poison and chemical materials in cases like overdose of medicine, poisoning cases and criminal cases.

Meanwhile, the DNA and Forensic Biology Lab offers service to law enforcement agencies in investigating crime on an individual through DNA profiling tests on biological samples such as body fluid.

The Document Examination Lab provides services on documents under dispute or to determine its authenticity by detecting any fraud or forgery case.

The Criminalistics and Arson Lab provides analysis on flammable liquid in fire debris, evidence materials like hair, glass, paint and fibre gathered at the scene or criminal scene, and to identify such materials.

The Security and Quality Radiation Unit is to scrutinise and control any use, storage, transportation and dumping of radiation materials, and to carry out analysis on cases relating to radiation.

The new block enhances quality and efficiency of the lab services to be more systematic and comprehensive.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin