The medium term goals of NIOH are:

• To be a national and regional reference centre, which will network with complementary national and provincial resources to provide leadership and support for the development of effective occupational health services; and
• To maintain and further develop specialist reference laboratory, advisory and information services centrally and peripherally.

As with all organisations and institutes of this nature, the activities need financing and cannot be undertaken unless the necessary resources are made available. In general, functions follow funds, although of course the functions may well have to be identified to attract the necessary funds. The major functions of the NIOH and the unique characteristics and plans of the institute have resulted in it being not only a national resource to all industries in South Africa, but also an important player both within and outside the African continent.