| Rapid loss of interest after a crisis is resolved |
Health security to be given standing priority. Ensure that the lessons learnt from EID crises/scares are reviewed and appropriate actions implemented; create national expert body to facilitate this. Continuous education of politicians and the general public.
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| Politicians hearing many different voices |
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| Communication of uncertainty |
Work with politicians and the public to view EID preparation and scenario planning as an insurance policy. Refine scenario planning and improve preparedness at all levels (public health officials, researchers, professional groups and policymakers). Work with the public and the media to optimise communication.
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| Delay in getting research proposals approved during an outbreak |
Consider important research questions (national expert body). Prepare generic research proposals in advance. Fast-track ethics approval processes during epidemic outbreaks.
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| Weak EID surveillance and response systems within the Asia Pacific region |
Comprehensive assessment of regional IHR-2005 implementation. Improved laboratory/diagnostic capacity and reporting structures. Increased domestic funding, as well as international aid, with a specific focus on regional health security. Expand IHR-2005 to include focus on livestock and wildlife disease surveillance or integrate with complimentary processes such as the OIE’s Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary Services. Remunerate farmers for losses incurred as a result of disease detection to secure their cooperation in surveillance efforts.
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| Separation of animal and human disease data, research and policy |
Identify overlapping issues in human and animal health; understand and respect each other’s perspectives. Funding agencies to encourage and support joint research opportunities that links human, animal and environmental health. Create national oversight body containing human, animal and environmental health experts.
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| Separate government structures for human and animal public health |
Encourage cross-discipline collaboration at Commonwealth and State levels; regular meetings between human and animal public health officials (including wildlife). Increase cross-ministerial interaction at Cabinet and senior government official level.
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| Restrictive discipline focus in academic institutions |
Broaden undergraduate exposure to the ‘natural sciences’. Encourage multidisciplinary perspectives and complex systems awareness at under and post-graduate levels, for example, joint One/Eco/Planetary Health training between medical and veterinary schools; Master degrees in One/Eco/Planetary Health, Health Security or Complex Systems.
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