HHS Urged to Create National Strategy for Pandemic Diagnostic Testing

A new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights significant gaps in the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) preparedness for future pandemics, specifically in diagnostic testing coordination. Experts convened by GAO emphasized that HHS’s struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the need for a structured, national approach to testing, warning that without improvements, the nation remains vulnerable to emerging infectious disease threats.

The GAO report, based on discussions with 19 experts, outlines nearly 100 recommendations for HHS to enhance diagnostic testing development, deployment, guidance, and data collection. Among the top suggestions were the creation of a national diagnostic testing strategy and the formation of a coordinating group involving a broad range of stakeholders. These actions aim to establish clear roles and responsibilities and ensure better collaboration between public and private sectors. Although HHS has made some progress, such as issuing guidance for non-traditional laboratories to perform testing during emergencies, the agency has not yet fully implemented these critical measures.

Experts agreed that a national testing strategy would reduce risks stemming from jurisdictional inconsistencies and ensure a more unified response to public health threats. A dedicated coordinating forum would help maintain and update this strategy and provide a platform for two-way communication between federal agencies, local jurisdictions, academic institutions, and the private sector. According to GAO’s prior work, these steps would address long-standing challenges and strengthen HHS’s leadership in public health emergencies.

GAO’s report also ties these recommendations to its ongoing concerns, as HHS’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic led to its inclusion on GAO’s High-Risk List in 2022. The agency’s difficulties in rapidly developing and deploying diagnostic tests, along with collecting complete and accurate testing data, were key factors in that designation. The new report reaffirms the importance of a proactive approach and calls on HHS to commit to regular updates and exercises to refine the national testing strategy over time.

The recommendations to HHS are still open, and the department has expressed its intention to review and respond to them in future updates.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) press release

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