Pandemic planning: data, information and evidence
Peter Lewis-Hughes A and Peter Brooks
B *
A Formally of: Queensland Health Pathology Services, Qld, Australia.
B Centre for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Australian Health Review 47(1) 67-71 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH22236
Submitted: 18 October 2022 Accepted: 11 January 2023 Published: 30 January 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY).
Abstract
In this article, we examine the role and effectiveness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA and Europe and consider possible lessons for future pandemic planning in Australia. We also ‘map’ the interjurisdictional communication pathways that have been secured since the election of the new Commonwealth government. We suggest a number of steps that could be taken to upgrade the collection, distribution, accessibility and timelines of key information required to improve pandemic management and national health outcomes. While it may be hard to contemplate a move to a fully integrated National capacity when we are only just emerging from the pandemic, we do have a unique opportunity to at least start the process of review. We should use the lessons we have learned to transform our systems, rather than ‘tinker’ with them and ensure we are better prepared for next time.
Keywords: CDC structure, COVID-19, health data, health governance, human resource management, jurisdictional decision-making, pandemic, pandemic responses.
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