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Head of National Quality Control Laboratory (NQCL)
Pharm. Dr. Michael Lahai — Head of Department (Manager)
Emails:Bio:Pharm. Dr. Michael Lahai serves as the Head of Department (Manager) for the National Quality Control Laboratory (NQCL). His academic progression includes a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) from the University of Sierra Leone (2009) a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Njala University (2012) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Sierra Leone (2013).
He further completed a PharmD conversion program at the University of Benin Nigeria (2019) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Sierra Leone (enrolled 2019). Dr. Lahai has also served as a Research Fellow in the ReBUILD Project conducted jointly by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and COMAHS.
He is a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm) in Clinical Pharmacy and holds the PCQI (Practitioner of the Chartered Quality Institute) credential along with UK Certified Lead Auditor status (2021–2024). His excellence in global health research earned him the prestigious NIHR Research Grant from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2021.
Dr. Lahai’s foundational professional exposure includes internship training at Marz-the-Chemist Pharmacy Choithram Hospital the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone and Nestlé Nutrition (2010). His leadership of NQCL is anchored by strong technical expertise in physicochemical analysis microbiology testing medical device evaluation and quality management systems.
Under his stewardship NQCL supports Sierra Leone’s national regulatory mandate through GLP-aligned testing issuance of Certificates of Analysis market surveillance post-market quality monitoring and continuous quality system strengthening.
The National Quality Control Laboratory is a key regulatory department of the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone that ensures pharmaceuticals and medical devices meet quality safety and efficacy standards through physicochemical microbiological and performance-based testing aligned with GLP and international pharmacopoeias.
Core Functions:
1. Conduct physicochemical microbiological and performance-based testing on medicines and medical devices.
2. Issue Certificates of Analysis and provide scientific evidence for regulatory decisions.
3. Support post-market surveillance product recalls border inspections and pharmacovigilance investigations.
4. Maintain GLP-compliant quality systems documentation data integrity and laboratory safety protocols.
5. Build capacity and drive continual improvement in line with international best practices.
Units of the Laboratory:
Performs identity tests assay/potency impurity profiling dissolution disintegration pH conductivity and instrumental analyses (HPLC UV‑Vis FTIR titration) to verify strength purity and stability of products.
Roles of the Physicochemical Unit
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Drug Quality Testing
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Analyzes medicines to ensure they meet required quality and safety standards.
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Physicochemical Analysis
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- Tests the physical and chemical properties of drugs such as:
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- pH
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- Solubility
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- Stability
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- Purity
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- Dissolution rate
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Detection of Substandard or Fake Medicines
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Identifies counterfeit adulterated or substandard pharmaceutical products in the market.
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Support for Drug Regulation
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Provides scientific results to help the board approve reject or recall medicines.
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Quality Control of Imported Drugs
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Tests imported pharmaceutical products to ensure they meet national standards.
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Documentation and Reporting
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Prepares laboratory reports and analysis results for regulatory decisions.
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Evaluates diagnostic and medical devices for performance calibration packaging and labelling integrity and compliance with applicable standards to ensure safety and reliability.
Roles of the Medical Devices Unit
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Registration of Medical Devices
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Evaluates and registers medical devices before they are allowed to be imported sold or used.
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Regulation and Compliance
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Ensures that medical devices meet national safety and quality standards.
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Inspection of Medical Device Suppliers
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Inspects companies pharmacies and hospitals that import or distribute medical devices.
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Monitoring Safety and Performance
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Monitors devices in the market to ensure they function properly and do not pose risks to patients.
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Control of Importation
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Reviews and approves permits for importing medical devices into the country.
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Handling Complaints and Recalls
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Investigates complaints about faulty or unsafe devices and may order product recalls if necessary.
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Conducts sterility testing microbial limits pathogen detection endotoxin/pyrogen analyses environmental monitoring of clean areas and water quality testing used in pharmaceutical processes.
Roles of the Microbiology Unit
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Microbial Testing of Medicines
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Examines pharmaceutical products to detect bacteria fungi or other microorganisms.
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Sterility Testing
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Ensures that sterile products such as injectables eye drops and intravenous fluids are free from microbial contamination.
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Microbial Limit Tests
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Determines whether the number of microorganisms in non-sterile products is within acceptable limits.
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Detection of Contamination
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Identifies contaminated substandard or unsafe pharmaceutical products in the market.
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Quality Control Support
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Provides microbiological analysis results that help regulators decide whether medicines should be approved rejected or recalled.
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Monitoring Storage and Handling Conditions
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Ensures medicines are stored and handled properly to prevent microbial growth.
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Laboratory Reporting
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Documents and reports microbiological test results for regulatory and quality assurance purposes.
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