Lessons Learned from National Public Health Institutes’ Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak in 2020


IANPHI today launched a new report titled Lessons Learned from National Public Health Institutes’ Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak. The report is a synthesis of the lessons learned exercise we conducted with our members about their role in the COVID-19 response in 2020.

Our analysis demonstrates how National Public Health Institutes adapted their scope and mission, addressed challenges and delivered essential public health functions, while being on the frontline of the pandemic response. The report also highlights the good practices and many successes that were identified, including through six case studies. 

“This report offers insights and lessons for national public health institutes, governments and global health organizations," said Prof. Duncan Selbie, president of IANPHI. "Throughout the two years of the pandemic NPHIs have had to rise to, and overcome, multiple concurrent challenges including a lack of critical resources, poorly defined roles, complex multi-level and multi-sectoral coordination, and rapidly evolving requirements for crisis communication. They have much to be proud of in this."

"This said, strengthening NPHIs will be essential to being better prepared for future health emergencies, and also to contribute their science and expertise to addressing the wider and longer term health and economic impacts of the pandemic,” he added.

The report is available in four languages:

English French Portuguese Spanish

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