International Experts in
Laboratory Strengthening
Dr. Tjeerd Datema is the CEO of DATOS BV. He advises medical laboratories, governments, and international organizations worldwide on diagnostic system strengthening, with a strong focus on quality management, biosafety, biosecurity, and capacity developmentacross all levels of the health system. In this role, he has conducted numerous advisory missions across Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
He has led laboratory network and system assessments and spearheaded strengthening initiatives in multiple countries. Notably, he led the development of the Laboratory System Maturity Monitoring (LMM) framework on behalf of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO), with support from The Global Fund. He has also facilitated the development of national laboratory policies and strategic plans, national laboratory quality standards, and National Essential Diagnostics Lists, working closely with public- and private-sector stakeholders across Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central, South, and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Datema is a certified internal auditor for ISO 15189 (the international standard for medical laboratory quality and competence) and
ISO 9001. In addition, he serves as course coordinator and lead trainer for international courses on laboratory quality management, biorisk management, and leadership and management. He regularly conducts laboratory audits and assessments to strengthen diagnostic and surveillance capacity and enhance emergency preparedness using a risk-based approach.
In October 2020, Dr. Datema was awarded his PhD for research on strengthening health laboratories in low- and middle-income countries through the implementation of quality management systems.
Tjeerd has world-wide experience in capacity building through provision of training in laboratory quality management, guidance of individual laboratories with implementation of a quality management system in accordance with international quality standards, and performing laboratory audits. At laboratory systems level he has conducted laboratory network assessments to advice national governments on laboratory network optimization in view of global health security and he has co-facilitated workshops on national laboratory policy development.
Our Team and Partnerships
For project implementation, DATOS draws on a flexible pool of highly experienced, pre-qualified partners, advisors, and trainers who uphold the organization’s rigorous quality standards.
