Public Health Laboratories in an Age of Austerity

Downes, Frances Pouch

doi:10.31478/201305e

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…These issues did not arise out of the blue; they were exacerbated by preexisting, long-term trends and chronic weaknesses of the US public health system. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, public health laboratories were suffering from capacity reductions caused by the 2008 global economic crisis4 and years of underfunding 5. Most state and large city public health laboratories receive funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) via 2 cooperative agreements: (1) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC)6 and (2) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strengthening the US Public Health Lab System: Summary of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) After Action Review Workshop

Shelton,

Nelson,

Sullivan

et al. 2024

Journal of Public Health Management &Amp; Practice

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Context: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significance of public health laboratories across the United States, while also revealing weaknesses in the laboratory system. Objective: To identify actionable recommendations for building a more resilient public health laboratory system based on previously published lessons learned from COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: In April 2023, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, in cooperation with RAND , convened a 1.5-day after action review workshop of approximately 30 public health laboratory stakeholders to reevaluate priorities, improve processes, and affect policies. Main Outcome Measures: Analysis of workshop discussions identified 5 priority areas and 19 recommendations related to clarifying laboratories’ unique role and promoting workforce capacity/agility, technology, and collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental partners. Results: Within the identified priority areas, workshop participants described how the recommendations would address challenges encountered during COVID-19 and contribute to strengthening the system. Conclusions: As the risk of novel infectious diseases persists and grows, the importance of maintaining laboratory response capabilities is likely to increase. Addressing the system’s weaknesses will require active engagement of laboratories and the many stakeholders who depend on them, along with consistent, adequate funding to strengthen and sustain capabilities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%