FIND statement at the multi-stakeholder hearing on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response

Multi-stakeholder hearings in preparation of the General Assembly High-level Meetings on the fight against Tuberculosis, Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and Universal Health Coverage

8-9 May 2023, Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York

Representing FIND which works with a diverse sent of partners to spur innovation and invest in the development and deployment of accurate, appropriate, affordable, accessible diagnostic technologies and tools for countries.

Pandemic preparedness and primary healthcare services go hand-in-hand. Despite being a vital component of both, diagnostics continue to be one of the most under-recognized and under-invested parts of health systems.

Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response are likely to fail without investments in strengthening testing capacity and infrastructure at the primary care level, where sustained pandemic threat monitoring must be implemented.

In order to support effective PPPR efforts, it is imperative that:

• point-of-care and rapid testing and linkage to care are accessible to all
• routine care for patients with respiratory illness is linked with pandemic surveillance
• adequate investment in systems to ensure that the data captured can be systematically disaggregated and transmitted to national disease surveillance databases

We need new digital tools, next generation sequencing platforms, surveillance systems, and molecular diagnostics, including POC and tests technologies that can test for multiple infectious diseases, including outbreak-prone pathogens at primary care levels that can make a transformational impact and fill critical gaps across the health system.

No PPPR response can be successful unless it is 1) built on strong, routine, and resilient primary healthcare systems including access to safe, effective, and affordable testing, surveillance, and other diagnostic tools, 2) coordinated across sectors; 3) places countries at the center; and 4) include civil society and community engagement at all levels.