From crisis to preparedness: Lessons for Europe’s public health laboratories
A study published today shows how public health laboratories can become more resilient against future respiratory infectious diseases. The findings call for sustained capacity, better coordination and EU-level support.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health laboratories (PHLs) across Europe faced unprecedented challenges. High testing demand, limited resources and shortages of trained staff put immense pressure on these critical facilities. Supply chain disruptions led to equipment and reagent shortages, while the high demand for genomic surveillance required new digital infrastructure and advanced techniques.
The pandemic accelerated innovation in genomic sequencing and wastewater surveillance, enabling faster detection of emerging variants. However, data sharing and coordination remained difficult, highlighting the importance of strong networks. Regional and EU-level collaborations, including those facilitated by WHO, helped improve communication and capacity during the crisis.
Experts stress that these lessons must shape future preparedness. Countries should maintain sufficient PHL capacity during “peace time” and have clear plans for scaling up during emergencies. Priorities include improving digital infrastructure, sustaining advances in sequencing, and ensuring rapid data sharing.
EU-level actions could further strengthen resilience, such as joint procurement to prevent supply shortages, funding research on effective surveillance strategies, and conducting preparedness exercises to boost coordination. Continued investment in resources, training, and collaboration will be key to ensuring Europe’s laboratories are ready for the next health threat.
An important step forward is the establishment of EU reference laboratories for public health designed to enhance Europe’s resilience against future health threats.
