Biosafety at the Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kourí” (IPK) of Havana

Abstract

The Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kourí” of Havana (IPK) was founded in 1937. Formerly engaged in parasitology, it has evolved into one of the top institutions in the Cuban Public Health System.

IPK comprises a complex of research laboratories and a 170-bed hospital. It is devoted to infectious and parasitic diseases and involved in research, teaching, reference diagnostic and medical services, special medical care, and epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases.

The Institute employs about 700 workers who could be potentially exposed to different kinds and levels of physical, chemical, and biological hazards, so we are strongly motivated to employ a group with enough skill and expertise to implement a program to guarantee personnel safety, health, and environmental protection.

Some aspects of the evolution of biosafety in Cuba are described, as biosafety-related activities developed at IPK in the last 15 years and the improvements achieved by the organization are summarized.

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