7. Pillars of the Health System

The recent global responses to SARS and avian flu represent an important paradigm shift in global research collaboration in that they required national surveillance at the epidemiological and laboratory levels; unprecedented sharing of information at all levels of the health system; and collaboration by clinicians, epidemiologists, bench scientists, and those responsible for veterinary surveillance for the rapid development of effective intervention strategies. These cases demonstrated that reliable and accurate information is essential for early warning and for making effective health policy. They also underscore the high priority that must be given to creating national health surveillance systems and competent laboratory networks that are part of a global epidemiological surveillance system.

Source: Adapted from DCP2, chapter 4.