Strengthening Global Diagnostic Capacities for Health Emergencies

On July 2-3, 2024, the WHO Collaborating Centre for GOARN at the Centre for International Health Protection, together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) Secretariat hosted the inaugural meeting of the GOARN Strategic Group for Diagnostic Surge Capacities (SG-DiSC). This hybrid event brought together over 60 experts from all WHO regions to facilitate the transition of the Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories (RRML) initiative into a strategic group under GOARN.

Participants of the first Global Meeting of the GOARN Strategic Group for Diagnostic Capacities in Berlin, Germany Source: RKI

Rapid Response Mobile Laboratories provide quick and mobile diagnostic support during public health crises and disease outbreaks. For several years, the Centre for International Health Protection along with partners supported the development of the RRML initiative to advance these diagnostic capacities. At the 35th meeting of the GOARN Steering Committee in May 2024, it was decided to transition the RRML initiative into the GOARN SG-DiSC with a global approach.  This marks the first strategic group established under GOARN as part of the GOARN Strategy 2022-2026. The transition of the RRML initiative to the global level will focus on strengthening laboratory surveillance of infectious diseases and ensuring the availability of essential diagnostics during outbreak responses.

Held on July 2-3, 2024 in Berlin, the meeting convened representatives from RRMLs, research institutions, national health authorities, public health institutes, and other actors of the global health workforce such as Emergency Medical Teams. Following the GOARN approach to strategic grouping, participants sought a consensus on the design of the strategic group. They achieved key outcomes such as:

• Agreement on a general structure and typology for RRMLs.
• A mutual understanding of the scope of SG-DiSC, informed by the newly developed RRML typology and the One Health approach.
• Establishment and adaptation of Terms of Reference for the SG-DiSC Coordination Board.
• Development of priorities and action plans for the SG-DiSC.

Experts discuss the formation of the new GOARN Strategic Group Source: RKI

The meeting was a resounding success, marking a significant step in establishing SG-DiSC. It represents an important milestone in the further development of global diagnostic capacities for health emergencies, which the Centre for International Health Protection will continue to support.

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