Pandemic preparedness of public health laboratories for respiratory infectious diseases

A laboratory technician is conducting a test, photo by Evgeniy_Salov/Adobe Stock

Photo by salomonus_/Adobe Stock

What is the issue?

Infectious diseases can significantly impact public health, the economy and society. However, preparedness can help improve responses to infectious diseases and outcomes related to public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified ‘preparing for epidemics’ as a key health challenge for the next decade, and the importance of preparedness was further underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health laboratories play an important role in the detection, surveillance and control of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted numerous challenges related to the preparedness of public health laboratories, including those related to gaps in scientific knowledge about COVID-19, capabilities and skills, lab capacity, supply chains, access to samples and coordination. Learning from how laboratories responded to challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic can be helpful in preparing for future public health threats caused by respiratory infectious diseases, in enhancing resilience and in implementing robust preparedness strategies.

How are we helping?

RAND Europe has been funded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to conduct a study focused on public health laboratory preparedness for respiratory infectious diseases in EU/EEA Member States. This study will focus on the challenges these labs faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the solutions that were implemented and the impacts of these solutions. We will also investigate what is needed to sustain advances made during the pandemic, lessons to improve preparedness for future respiratory infectious diseases and long-term strategies to improve resilience in public health laboratories.

The aim of this project is to collate information about the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to public health laboratories. The study will consist of a mapping study (literature review and data collection across EU/EEA countries) and a technical meeting with key stakeholders related to public health laboratories and public health preparedness.

Evidence from this study is meant to serve as a reliable source of information for ECDC and its key stakeholders in deciding on how to prepare for future health threats and benefit from the lessons learned during the pandemic. This will support further improvements in communicable disease surveillance, prevention and control, and the development of preparedness strategies for future health threats.