Enhancing Laboratory Capacities and Pandemic Preparedness: A Critical Evaluation of Global Strategies and Approaches
Keywords:
Laboratory Capacities, Pandemic Preparedness, Global Health Strategies, Technological Innovations, Collaboration, Public Health Policy, Surveillance and Response
Abstract
This article critically evaluates global strategies and approaches for enhancing laboratory capacities in the context of pandemic preparedness. The recent global health crises have underscored the pivotal role of laboratory systems in detecting and responding to emerging infectious diseases. Despite technological advancements, there are stark disparities in laboratory infrastructures across different regions. This review delves into the current state of laboratory systems worldwide, highlighting key challenges such as funding, training, equipment shortages, and coordination difficulties. It also examines global strategies adopted by health organizations, emphasizing the integration of new technologies in diagnostics and research, and the crucial role of data management. Furthermore, the article explores the significance of building a collaborative global network for resource sharing and effective partnership, drawing on case studies and best practices from various countries. The findings suggest that strengthening laboratory capacities requires a multi-faceted approach, involving not only technological investments but also policy reforms and international cooperation. The review concludes with recommendations for future directions, stressing the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation in laboratory systems to enhance global pandemic preparedness.
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References
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26. Datema, Tjeerd A M et al. “Review of the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) version 2:2015.” African journal of laboratory medicine vol. 9,1 1068. 28 Oct. 2020, doi:10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.1068
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30. Panteghini, Mauro. “The future of laboratory medicine: understanding the new pressures.” The Clinical biochemist. Reviews vol. 25,4 (2004): 207-15.
31. Huang, Tao et al. “CRISPR-Cas-based techniques for pathogen detection: Retrospect, recent advances, and future perspectives.” Journal of advanced research vol. 50 (2023): 69-82. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2022.10.011
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35. Manukyan E, Levine B, Manukyan A, Lulejian A. Integration of Laboratory Data into a National Electronic Health Record (EHR). Stud Health Technol Inform. 2023 Jun 29;305:491-494. doi: 10.3233/SHTI230540. PMID: 37387074.
36. Vijayan, Vini et al. “Review of Wearable Devices and Data Collection Considerations for Connected Health.” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,16 5589. 19 Aug. 2021, doi:10.3390/s21165589
37. League, Avery & Bangure, Donewell & Meyer, Mark & Salyer, Stephanie & Wanjohi, Dorcas & Tebeje, Yenew & Sorrell, Erin & Standley, Claire. (2023). Assessing the impact of regional laboratory networks in East and West Africa on national health security capacities. PLOS global public health. 3. e0001962. 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001962.
38. Stevens, Hilde, and Isabelle Huys. “Innovative Approaches to Increase Access to Medicines in Developing Countries.” Frontiers in medicine vol. 4 218. 7 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00218
39. Yogesh, M J, and J Karthikeyan. “Health Informatics: Engaging Modern Healthcare Units: A Brief Overview.” Frontiers in public health vol. 10 854688. 29 Apr. 2022, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.854688
2. World Health Organization (WHO). " COVID-19 responsible for at least 3 million excess deaths in 2020". 21 May 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-global-health-goals
3. Manjeet Sharan, Deepthi Vijay, Jay Prakash Yadav, Jasbir Singh Bedi, Pankaj Dhaka, Surveillance and response strategies for zoonotic diseases: a comprehensive review, Science in One Health, Volume 2, 2023, 100050, ISSN 2949-7043, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soh.2023.100050.
4. Raphael Kaplinsky, Erika Kraemer-Mbula, Innovation and uneven development: The challenge for low- and middle-income economies, Research Policy, Volume 51, Issue 2, 2022, 104394, ISSN 0048-7333, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2021.104394.
5. Onyekuru, N A et al. “Impacts of Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa: Implications for government and public health preparedness and lessons from COVID-19.” Scientific African vol. 19 (2023): e01513. doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01513
6. Filip, Roxana et al. “Global Challenges to Public Health Care Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Pandemic Measures and Problems.” Journal of personalized medicine vol. 12,8 1295. 7 Aug. 2022, doi:10.3390/jpm12081295
7. Nsubuga P, White ME, Thacker SB, et al. Public Health Surveillance: A Tool for Targeting and Monitoring Interventions. In: Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham AR, et al., editors. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. 2nd edition. Washington (DC): The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank; 2006. Chapter 53. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11770/ Co-published by Oxford University Press, New York.
8. Hilt, Evann E, and Patricia Ferrieri. “Next Generation and Other Sequencing Technologies in Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.” Genes vol. 13,9 1566. 31 Aug. 2022, doi:10.3390/genes13091566
9. Oleribe, Obinna O et al. “Identifying Key Challenges Facing Healthcare Systems In Africa And Potential Solutions.” International journal of general medicine vol. 12 395-403. 6 Nov. 2019, doi:10.2147/IJGM.S223882
10. Pratt, B., Bull, S. Equitable data sharing in epidemics and pandemics. BMC Med Ethics 22, 136 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00701-8
11. Dingzhong Sun, Linhuan Wu, Guomei Fan,
12. Laboratory information management system for biosafety laboratory: Safety and efficiency, Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity, Volume 3, Issue 1, 2021, Pages 28-34, ISSN 2588-9338, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobb.2021.03.001 .
13. The International Statistical Institute (ISI). " The Future of AI in Statistics in Africa: Is the Continent Ready?", Statistical Science for a Better World. 16 October 2023. Available at: https://www.isi-web.org/article/future-ai-statistics-africa-continent-ready
14. Karan, Abraar & Deugarte, Daniel & Barry, Michele. Medical "Brain Drain" and Health Care Worker Shortages: How Should International Training Programs Respond?. AMA journal of ethics. 18. 665-675. 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.7.ecas1-1607.
15. Zima, Tomáš. “Accreditation of Medical Laboratories - System, Process, Benefits for Labs.” Journal of medical biochemistry vol. 36,3 231-237. 14 Jul. 2017, doi:10.1515/jomb-2017-0025
16. Azevedo, Mario J.. “The State of Health System(s) in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.” Historical Perspectives on the State of Health and Health Systems in Africa, Volume II: The Modern Era 1–73. 3 Feb. 2017, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-32564-4_1
17. Kruk, Margaret E et al. “High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: time for a revolution.” The Lancet. Global health vol. 6,11 (2018): e1196-e1252. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30386-3
18. Kraus, S., Jones, P., Kailer, N., Weinmann, A., Chaparro-Banegas, N., & Roig-Tierno, N. (2021). Digital Transformation: An Overview of the Current State of the Art of Research. SAGE Open, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211047576
19. Lofters, Aisha. The "Brain Drain" of Health Care Workers: Causes, Solutions and the Example of Jamaica. Canadian journal of public health. Revue canadienne de santé publique.2013, 103. e376-8. 10.1007/BF03404445.
20. Attoh, Seth & Tetteh, Francis & McAddy, Mary & Ackah, Kingsley & Kyei, Richmond & Moroti, Marcus & Boateng, Cynthia & Adusu-Donkor, Laurinda & Boafo, Joseph & Yakubu, Alhassan Mohammed & Kwao, Sarah & Sarkodie, Emmanuel & Koranteng, Nana-Banyin & Addo, Monica & Hobenu, Frederick & Agyeman-Bediako, Kwasi & Fatchu, Raymond. (2022). Challenges with the pursuit of ISO 15189 accreditation in a public health laboratory in Ghana. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine. 11. 10.4102/ajlm.v11i1.1448.
21. Gupta, P., & Nandraj, S. (2023). Challenges and gaps in regulating medical laboratories in India. Medical Law International, 23(4), 351-367. https://doi.org/10.1177/09685332231194199
22. Institute of Medicine (US) Forum on Emerging Infections; Knobler SL, Mahmoud AAF, Pray LA, editors. Biological Threats and Terrorism: Assessing The Science and Response Capabilities: Workshop Summary. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. Summary and Assessment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK98390/
23. Kuteyi D, Winkler H. Logistics Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa and Opportunities for Digitalization. Sustainability. 2022; 14(4):2399. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042399
24. World Health Organization (WHO). Strengthening diagnostics capacity. SEVENTY-SIXTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, Agenda item 13.1. 30 May 2023. https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA76/A76_R5-en.pdf
25. Kostova, Deliana et al. “The Role of Noncommunicable Diseases in the Pursuit of Global Health Security.” Health security vol. 19,3 (2021): 288-301. doi:10.1089/hs.2020.0121
26. Datema, Tjeerd A M et al. “Review of the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) version 2:2015.” African journal of laboratory medicine vol. 9,1 1068. 28 Oct. 2020, doi:10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.1068
27. Hernandez-Aguado, Ildefonso, and G A Zaragoza. “Support of public-private partnerships in health promotion and conflicts of interest.” BMJ open vol. 6,4 e009342. 18 Apr. 2016, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009342
28. Miranda, Adriana Viola et al. “Strengthening Virology Research in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Preparing for Future Pandemics.” The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene vol. 105,5 1141-1143. 10 Sep. 2021, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0589
29. Ellen Abakah, David Addae, Delali Amuzu, Continuing professional development (CPD) at a distance: Teachers' reflections on enhancing distance education (DE) provision, International Journal of Educational Research Open, Volume 5, 2023, 100304, ISSN 2666-3740, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2023.100304 .
30. Panteghini, Mauro. “The future of laboratory medicine: understanding the new pressures.” The Clinical biochemist. Reviews vol. 25,4 (2004): 207-15.
31. Huang, Tao et al. “CRISPR-Cas-based techniques for pathogen detection: Retrospect, recent advances, and future perspectives.” Journal of advanced research vol. 50 (2023): 69-82. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2022.10.011
32. Larkins MC, Thombare A. Point-of-Care Testing. [Updated 2023 May 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592387/
33. Jonguitud, Nestor & Malcı, Koray & Anand, Mihir & Baluku, Erikan & Webb, Calum & Liang, Lungang & Barba Ostria, Carlos & Guaman, Linda & Hui, Liu & Rios-Solis, Leonardo. (2022). High—throughput and automated screening for COVID-19. Frontiers in Medical Technology. 4. 969203. 10.3389/fmedt.2022.969203.
34. Davenport, Thomas, and Ravi Kalakota. “The potential for artificial intelligence in healthcare.” Future healthcare journal vol. 6,2 (2019): 94-98. doi:10.7861/futurehosp.6-2-94
35. Manukyan E, Levine B, Manukyan A, Lulejian A. Integration of Laboratory Data into a National Electronic Health Record (EHR). Stud Health Technol Inform. 2023 Jun 29;305:491-494. doi: 10.3233/SHTI230540. PMID: 37387074.
36. Vijayan, Vini et al. “Review of Wearable Devices and Data Collection Considerations for Connected Health.” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,16 5589. 19 Aug. 2021, doi:10.3390/s21165589
37. League, Avery & Bangure, Donewell & Meyer, Mark & Salyer, Stephanie & Wanjohi, Dorcas & Tebeje, Yenew & Sorrell, Erin & Standley, Claire. (2023). Assessing the impact of regional laboratory networks in East and West Africa on national health security capacities. PLOS global public health. 3. e0001962. 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001962.
38. Stevens, Hilde, and Isabelle Huys. “Innovative Approaches to Increase Access to Medicines in Developing Countries.” Frontiers in medicine vol. 4 218. 7 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00218
39. Yogesh, M J, and J Karthikeyan. “Health Informatics: Engaging Modern Healthcare Units: A Brief Overview.” Frontiers in public health vol. 10 854688. 29 Apr. 2022, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.854688
Published
2023-11-20
How to Cite
Asiri, Ahmed Ibrahim A, Al Mutlaq, Abdullah Ali N, Al Faqeer, Abulmajeed Abdullah Husain, Al Ahmari, Saeed Saad M, Al Hefthi, Alhassan Abdullah Alhassan, & Al Zahrani, Abdulrahman Ahmed. (2023). Enhancing Laboratory Capacities and Pandemic Preparedness: A Critical Evaluation of Global Strategies and Approaches. IJRDO -JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING, 9(7), 45-52. https://doi.org/10.53555/hsn.v9i7.5978
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