At International Clinical Laboratories (ICL), we believe that equitable access to quality diagnostics is the foundation of stronger public health systems. For over two decades, we have worked to close healthcare gaps across Ethiopia by bringing accurate, reliable, and affordable laboratory services closer to underserved communities.

Through strategic partnerships with government bodies, global health organizations, and private sector stakeholders, ICL continues to pioneer innovative solutions that improve early detection, disease surveillance, and treatment outcomes, even in the most remote settings.

Innovative Partnership Model for Public Hospitals

To strengthen the diagnostic capacity of Ethiopia's public healthcare system, ICL has developed an innovative partnership model that provides affordably priced laboratory testing for remote governmental hospitals.

Under this model, ICL:

  • Collects and transports patient specimens from partner hospitals located outside major urban centers.
  • Ensures temperature-controlled sample transport to maintain integrity from collection to analysis.
  • Conducts testing in our accredited central laboratories using advanced diagnostic platforms.
  • Digitally delivers results back to the hospital teams for rapid clinical decision-making.

This approach bridges the infrastructure and technology gaps often faced by regional hospitals, enabling thousands of patients to access high-quality testing that was previously unavailable locally.

By combining our technical expertise with the reach of public institutions, ICL helps make equitable healthcare a reality for all Ethiopians.

ICL's Low-Cost, High-Quality (LC/HQ) Laboratory Services Initiative In Partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

International Clinical Laboratories (ICL), launched the LC/HQ project in 2019 with support from BMGF to improve access to affordable, high-quality laboratory services through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The project was implemented across 26 public hospital sites (15 in Year 1 and 11 more in Year 2), using ICL's hub-and-spoke network and integration with regional health facilities.

Key achievments

  • More than 300,000 tests were conducted and over 123,000 patients were served.
  • Sustained lab service demand despite COVID-19, political unrest, and supply chain disruptions.
  • Introduced innovative models like point-of-care testing, digital health tools, and efficient logistics systems.
  • Strengthened public health facilities through training, IT system support (LIS/LMS), and sample transport systems
  • Played a pivotal role in Ethiopia's COVID-19 response, performing over 35,000 free RT-PCR tests and deploying diagnostics to ICUs and high-risk areas.

The LC/HQ project proved that scalable, cost-effective private sector engagement can support national health priorities. It enhanced diagnostic capacity, increased test accessibility for underserved populations, and built resilience within Ethiopia's health system—especially during the pandemic.

Mobile Laboratory Project with DEG – German Development Finance Institution

In collaboration with DEG, ICL successfully implemented the Mobile Laboratory Project, an innovative initiative designed to deliver diagnostic services to communities affected by conflict and limited infrastructure.

As part of this project, ICL developed and deployed state-of-the-art mobile laboratory units ,the first of their kind in Ethiopia , providing free and accessible testing in hard-to-reach and post-conflict areas.

These mobile labs have played a crucial role in:

  • Supporting emergency healthcare delivery in crisis-affected regions.
  • Conducting essential diagnostic testing in the absence of functional health facilities.
  • Rebuilding trust in healthcare systems by ensuring continuity of care during recovery phases.

The success of the mobile laboratory model inspired the establishment of ICL's first satellite laboratories in Mekelle and Dessie, further expanding our capacity to serve northern Ethiopia with reliable and timely diagnostic services.

This milestone marked a significant step forward in strengthening resilience within the national healthcare system.

Our Ongoing Commitment

ICL remains committed to advancing Ethiopia's public health agenda through sustainable, scalable, and innovative diagnostic partnerships.

We continue to engage with government agencies, NGOs, and development partners to:

  • Expand testing coverage in underserved areas.
  • Strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response systems.
  • Support national screening programs and epidemiological research.
  • Build laboratory capacity through training and technology transfer.